Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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35. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will publish all research conducted on the potential impact of Brexit by Government Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48316/17]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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36. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the preparations within his Department for a hard Brexit and reports or analyses conducted in this regard. [44893/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 36 together.

As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for Brexit, I have responsibility for coordinating the whole-of-Government response to Brexit. In this capacity, I am working closely with colleagues across Government to address the many challenges resulting from Brexit. This cooperation also involves the relevant State Agencies.

Work at Cabinet level is being prepared through cross-Departmental coordination structures. These represent a frequent and active channel through which all relevant Departments are providing their research, analysis and overall policy input to the Government’s wider response to Brexit, including its priorities for the ongoing Article 50 negotiations between the EU and the UK.

As the outcome of the negotiations is not yet known, an important focus of the planning and preparation being undertaken through these structures is on deepening the Government’s analysis and understanding of the exact consequences of a range of different possible scenarios, including one in which no Withdrawal Agreement is concluded. This represents an intensification of efforts to build on the Government‘s previous contingency planning.

Aside from its wider co-ordination responsibilities, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has lead responsibility for planning for, preparing positions on, and following the EU-UK negotiations. This requires research on and analysis of very many legal, institutional, and political issues. The eventual outcome of negotiations will of course be decisive in determining the shape and effects of Brexit. This work is led by the European Union Division in co-operation with the Ireland and United Kingdom and Americas Division, the Legal Division, the Political Division and the Trade Division. Our Permanent Representation in Brussels, and our Embassies in all Member States, send in a constant stream of reports describing and analysing the concerns and priorities of the EU Institutions and our partners.

These work streams are reflected in the Government’s policy positions and public statements, such as the comprehensive document on the Government‘s approach to the Article 50 negotiations and our response to Brexit which was published on 2 May as well as through in depth analysis such as the series the Department of Finance/ERSI research papers on the implications of Brexit. The Government will continue to consider how best to reflect the work ongoing across Government, in addition to the channels of public consultations and stakeholder engagement such as the All-Island Civic Dialogue and the Brexit Stakeholder Forum. However, it would not be helpful or appropriate to publish detailed material which is heavily informed by confidential and ongoing analysis and discussions, including with other Member States and the EU Institutions.

The Department is also analysing the possible impact of Brexit on policy areas within its remit, notably the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and the EU’s policy on international development.

We have already seen the implications that Brexit has had for our consular and passport services. There has been a marked increase in demand for passports and citizenship via foreign birth registration from applicants in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. In this regard, the Passport Service in Dublin, Cork and London as well as Consular Division have recruited a number of additional temporary and fulltime officers to meet increased Passport and Foreign Birth Registration demands including increased demand as a result of Brexit.

My Department also works closely with the European Commission and European Parliament Offices here in Dublin and with civil society organisations including the Institute for International and European Affairs and European Movement Ireland. With funding from this Department, the IIEA is undertaking research on the future shape of the EU and the new strategic alliances that Ireland will need to develop within the EU after Brexit. The analysis will also consider the macro-economic effects of Brexit and the EU institutional implications of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU. This work will build on the extensive analysis being undertaken by a range of organisations, both in Ireland and further afield, and will be presented in a series of public research papers over the coming months and years.