Michael Harty (Clare, Independent)
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675. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the preparations being made to ensure aviation transport linkages to the United Kingdom in the event of a hard Brexit in which the UK becomes a third country with respect to the IAA and European Union. [37553/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Future air connectivity with the UK following Brexit is a major concern, particularly as there is no WTO fall-back position for this sector.

Brexit and its potential implications for Ireland are being managed on a whole-of-government basis. My Department is represented on all relevant cross-Departmental coordination structures, and an internal Departmental Committee on Brexit meets on a monthly basis to oversee the Department's analyses and planning as the EU-UK negotiations progress. My Department is preparing a Brexit Action Plan as well as continuing its contingency planning for a “no deal” UK exit from the EU. Ireland is also actively engaging with the European Commission Taskforce and the Brexit Preparedness Unit including on issues on which the EU has a lead policy role. This includes matters relating to aviation.

In addition to the work on contingency planning, there are ongoing consultations and meetings between my officials, other Government Departments and agencies, and other public and private key stakeholders in order to continue to plan for and mitigate the risks associated with Brexit.

It is also important that the aviation industry takes steps to prepare for the possibility of a disorderly Brexit and that industry stakeholders undertake contingency planning to minimise the impact of Brexit on their operations. Stakeholders should refer to the European Commission’s published Notices to Stakeholders in the field of air transport, aviation safety and aviation security.

The full implications of Brexit for air transport will only become clear once the negotiations have been completed and the arrangements for the future relationship between the EU and the UK have been decided.