Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

608. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the contingencies being taken in a no-deal Brexit scenario; the legislative areas under his remit that will have to be changed; and the impact this will have on schemes and funding. [3085/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can confirm that Departments across Government have been planning for all Brexit scenarios but as the UK's exit date of 29 March approaches, Government has decided that immediate priority must now be given to preparations for a no-deal Brexit.

The Government published a Contingency Action Plan on 19 December 2018, which my Department inputted into, setting out its approach to dealing with a no-deal Brexit and is determined that Ireland will be as ready as we can be in mitigating any impacts from Brexit and of a no-deal scenario.

Preparations in advance of Brexit have been focused on engagement and awareness in relation to our stakeholders in the rural and community development sectors.

Intensive work has been undertaken across Government to screen all Irish legislation currently in force to identify areas where legislative amendments will, or may, be required in the context of a no deal Brexit.  My Department has engaged with this screening process and has not identified any legislative areas under my remit where amendment is required in advance of a no-deal Brexit.

As the Tánaiste outlined to the Dáil last Thursday, the Government has identified 17 different areas, across nine Government Departments, to be included in a single omnibus Bill in the context of a no deal Brexit. In addition, the Government has also identified a further 28 pieces of secondary legislation that will be required in such a scenario. 

I am very conscious that the potential effects of a disorderly Brexit on communities and on certain economic sectors, such as agrifood, will have a major regional impact.

Therefore, a key element of my Department's contingency planning is to ensure maximum flexibility in our programme of initiatives, to allow for responses to emerging needs and to continue to build resilience in communities.