Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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97. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he discussed the draft Bill that has been drawn up in France for a no-deal Brexit with his French counterpart at the October 2018 EU Council. [43889/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Minister of State McEntee and I had a bilateral meeting with the French Minister for European Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau in Luxembourg on Tuesday, 16 October. At the meeting, Minister McEntee and I were briefed by Minister Loiseau on the French Bill on preparedness and contingency planning, which was published on 3 October.I also provided Minister Loiseau with an update on recent Government decisions on Brexit preparedness and contingency planning. We continue to engage with our European partners, both bilaterally and through the European Commission, on contingency planning and Brexit preparedness.

The European Commission has also offered guidance regarding potential consequences resulting from various Brexit scenarios through over 80 preparedness notices. Where planning is focused on areas of exclusive EU or mixed competence, the role of the Commission will be of great importance and we continue to engage actively with the Commission on this work.