Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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119. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Brexpo events that took place nationally as part of the Getting Ireland Brexit Ready campaign; and the number of attendees at each event. [51822/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in June 2017, I have overseen and co-ordinated a sustained intensification of Brexit preparedness. As part of these efforts, the Government has organised “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready” public information events around Ireland to inform and advise about Brexit preparedness, and the range of support measures and resources that the Government has put in place.

These events brought together over a dozen Agencies and their parent Departments – the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport - under one roof to inform and advise both citizens and businesses.

The Workshops also attracted significant domestic and international (in particular UK) media coverage which afforded an opportunity to highlight Ireland’s overall approach and specific concerns in relation to Brexit.

Six Getting Ireland Brexit Ready workshop events have so far taken place in Cork on 5 October, Galway on 12 October, Monaghan on 19 October, Dublin on 25 October, Limerick on 23 November, and Letterkenny on 30 November. Having participated at each event, I am pleased to confirm that all workshops attracted a strong attendance.

The Getting Ireland Brexit Ready campaign invited business throughout the country to either attend one of the six workshops, or to come online to the dfa.ie/brexitwebsite, which has been visited over 26,000 times.

Attendance figures for each Getting Ireland Brexit Ready workshop were as follows:

Cork: 420

Galway: 220

Monaghan: 420

Dublin: 950

Limerick: 170

Letterkenny: 310

The positive impact of the roadshows is reflected in an increase in interactions with the Brexit supports offered by State agencies. For example, Enterprise Ireland has recorded a 92% increase in Brexit Scorecard completions from September to October, as well as a 62% increase in interactions on its website. Similarly, Fáilte Ireland noted a 24% increase in views to their Brexit webpages subsequent to the October events, as well as an uptrend averaging 83% in the number of interactions on their Get Brexit Ready diagnostic tool.

Other Brexit preparedness-related public information activities and events continue to be organised by State Agencies and Departments across Ireland and relevant details on these can be found at the new dedicated Brexit events page on the dfa.ie/brexitwebsite.

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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120. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has formally met with his UK counterpart to discuss Brexit and its impact on east-west trade reciprocal arrangements and all other Brexit-related matters that fall within the remit of his Department; the number of times they have formally met to discuss Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51888/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The negotiations on both the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement and political declaration on the framework for the EU-UK future relationship, both of which we were endorsed by the European Council on 25 November, were conducted on behalf of the EU27 by the EU's Chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, and the Commission's Article 50 Taskforce.

Brexit is a priority issue for this Government, and the Taoiseach, my Cabinet colleagues and I have taken every opportunity to engage with EU partners and the UK to advance Ireland’s priorities. In 2018 I have met directly with various UK ministers to discuss issues including Brexit on some twenty occasions.

The Government has already taken a number of key decisions on measures to support East – West Trade. These include staffing, ICT and infrastructure measures to implement necessary checks and controls at our ports and airports. To support businesses, the Government provided dedicated Brexit support measures in Budgets 2017, 2018 and 2019. Ireland is working closely with the EU and fellow Member States to discuss and to facilitate the use of the UK as a landbridge post Brexit.

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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121. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of his contingency planning for a no-deal Brexit; if plans for a no-deal Brexit have been finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51905/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Any Brexit scenario will mean considerable change and impact for Ireland and extensive and detailed Brexit preparedness and contingency work is being taken forward, co-ordinated by officials in my Department, working closely with the Department of the Taoiseach, across all Government Departments and Agencies.

Our focus continues to be on ensuring an orderly UK withdrawal through ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement endorsed by the European Council on 25 November and agreed with the British Government.

However, it is only prudent for the Government to prepare for all scenarios. Departments continue to plan and prepare for both for the ‘central case’ scenario and a disorderly Brexit scenario and updated Departmental Action Plans have evolved and developed based on the changing situation. It is not possible to eliminate all risk but the Government is working at home and at EU level to mitigate damage to the greatest extent possible. We discussed next steps in this regard at Cabinet today.

The underlying strength and resilience of our economy is critical in ensuring that Ireland is in the best possible position to respond to the challenges that Brexit will bring and this has been a key factor in developing successive budgets including in Budget 2019.

The Government has already taken a number of key decisions on measures to be put in place for the necessary checks and controls for trade on an East-West basis. The recruitment of an additional 1,000 staff for customs and SPS controls, in addition to ICT and infrastructure measures at our ports and airports has been sanctioned and implementation is underway. Various contingency measures, such as the rapid recruitment and redeployment of staff, and the use of temporary facilities, are under active planning for a disorderly Brexit scenario.

Given that in a number of key areas for Ireland, the appropriate response and mitigation will be at the EU level, we are continuing to engage actively with the Commission on areas of priority for Ireland, including through a series of expert level meetings with the Commission and the EU27 on key issues on a weekly basis until mid-January.

The EU Commission acknowledged the particular impact of Brexit on Ireland and Irish business in its contingency planning communication of 13 November. This communication also outlined some of the EU’s plans for a no deal scenario, including in the areas of financial services, citizens’ rights, air transport, road transport, and customs / SPS requirements. This has further informed our own domestic planning.

Ireland is also working closely with the EU and fellow Member States to discuss and progress areas of key concern, including facilitating the use of the UK as a landbridge post Brexit.