Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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88. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has commissioned economic or regulatory impact assessments of the risks to sectors under the purview of his Department following the decision of the UK to exit the EU and the various types of future relationships that might result; if he will provide a copy of such studies conducted; the persons or body commissioned to conduct this research; the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6306/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has not commissioned or paid for any studies or assessments regarding Brexit. Of course, in its cross-departmental co-ordination role the Department is in close touch with all Departments, including those which have commissioned such work.

The Government’s contingency planning continues to be firmly grounded in the extensive work and outreach that has already been undertaken by individual Departments and agencies, as well as by stakeholder organisations, academics and others. Much of this is in the public domain and a number of further important studies are underway with a view to publication in the coming weeks and months.

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 on which will of course be decisive in determining the shape and effects of Brexit. 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.

All of this work is being done by the officials of the Department at home and in Missions.

The 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.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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89. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the additional budget for 2018 or other years, provided to his Department and all agencies and bodies within his remit to plan or prepare for Brexit; the number of additional staff that have been recruited to work on this policy area in each body, agency and his Department; the number of dedicated staff planning and working on Brexit matters in each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6323/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Managing our response to Brexit has impacted on the work of many staff at Headquarters and a significant number of those overseas. Our approach has not been merely to recruit or assign additional staff, but rather also to prioritise Brexit across the entire range of work of the Department. There is no State Agency under the aegis of my Department.

Additional staff have been assigned to the key Divisions with responsibility for Brexit matters, namely the European Union Division and the Ireland, UK and Americas (IUKA) Division, to cover the issues arising from the UK exit process.

For operational and service-oriented units like the Passport Office and Consular service, there has been a marked increase in demand for passports and citizenship via foreign birth registration from applicants in Northern Ireland and in Britain.

Many business units of my Department at headquarters in Dublin are involved in the response to the UK exit, including the Legal Division, the Trade Division and the Policy Planning Unit. Further information on some of the new positions established in these Divisions as a consequence of Brexit is provided in the table.

Overseas, additional posts have been assigned to our Embassies in London, Berlin, and Paris as well as the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels (PRB). Details are provided in the table.

In 2018 an additional €4 million has been allocated to the Department’s budget including to support the ongoing complex and intensive Article 50 negotiation process. These additional resources will be targeted at the management of the negotiations on UK withdrawal and subsequent agreements; enhanced Brexit co-ordination, promotion and public engagement/outreach on the Future of Europe; resources for the processing of a significant increase in Foreign Birth Registrations; a targeted response in new and mature markets to mitigate the economic impact of British withdrawal and targeted additional resources in EU capitals focused on trade and economic promotion and further enhancement of key strategic relationships/partnerships.

In 2017 €2 million in additional resources was provided in support for Brexit negotiations and for additional staff in key Embassies in Europe. In addition, €3.2 million was transferred, along with the staffing, from the Department of the Taoiseach to my Department for the establishment of a new EU Division which, together with the Department’s Ireland, UK and Americas Division, has key responsibility for Brexit matters and seeking to ensure that Ireland’s interests are safeguarded during the negotiations on the UK’s EU withdrawal.

The Deputy will appreciate that I am not yet in a position to outline additional budget allocations in 2019 and subsequent years.

These measures remain under review. The Department will allocate additional staff resources as deemed necessary to further augment our level of support across Government and across our diplomatic mission network.

New posts dedicated to Brexit-related work