Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

51. To ask the Taoiseach the number of regular grade civil servants his Department has hired in advance of a no-deal Brexit; the number of specialist grade civil servants hired in advance of same; and the budget made available in advance of Brexit for hiring of staff in advance of the UK withdrawal from the EU. [3328/19]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department works closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, which has overall responsibility for Brexit.

Within my Department, staff across several divisions contribute to the work on Brexit. The International, European Union and Northern Ireland Division covers work on all international, EU and British-Irish and Northern Ireland affairs within the Department, including Brexit matters.

The Economic Division advises me on economic policy aimed at supporting sustainable economic growth, with a particular focus on jobs and competitiveness including the possible economic impacts of Brexit.

To augment the ongoing work of my Department’s International, EU and Northern Ireland Division on Brexit, my Department established a small unit to assist with Brexit preparedness and contingency planning. The unit assists a Secretaries General Group, which oversees ongoing work on national Brexit preparedness and contingency planning. The unit is also focusing on cross-Government co-ordination, planning and programme management.