Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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134. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on increased preparations for a hard Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53143/18]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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135. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the preparations that have been made to address difficulties arising from Brexit for the Government and citizens. [1703/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 135 together.

Since July 2018 the Government has made a number of key decisions on Brexit preparedness including on staffing, ICT and infrastructure at the ports and airports.

At its meeting of 11 December the Government agreed, that in light of ongoing political uncertainties and the Brexit deadline of 29 March, greater immediate priority must now be give to preparations for a no deal Brexit.

Following this, the Government published its Brexit Contingency Action Plan on 19 December which sets out detailed sectoral analyses and approaches to mitigating the impacts of a no deal Brexit. Ireland's Action Plan is consistent with and complementary to the approach being taken at EU27 level to prepare for the UK's withdrawal.

On 15 January, further discussion at Cabinet took this work forward in the important areas of transport connectivity and medicines, with Memos brought to Government by Minister Ross and Minister Harris respectively.

A number of the actions identified in a no deal scenario will still be required even in a central case scenario, including the Withdrawal Agreement with a transition period and the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and the political declaration on the future relationship, but with a longer timeframe for implementation.

While ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement is still the Government's preferred outcome, last week the Government published the general scheme of proposed primary legislative measures required in the event of a no deal Brexit.

The draft Omnibus Bill focuses on measures protecting our citizens and supporting the economy, enterprise and jobs, particularly in key economic sectors.