Press release
Update on No Deal Brexit Contingency Planning
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
Issued by Government Press Office
The Government was this evening briefed on the latest position on Brexit negotiations between the EU and UK, and in that context, noted the increasing risk of a no deal Brexit on 31 October.
It also discussed in detail the position on No Deal Brexit contingency mitigation and preparations and agreed that no deal Brexit planning would continue to get top priority across all Government Department and Agencies.
Notwithstanding the full range of preparations and mitigation measures in place, a no deal Brexit risks potentially severe impacts in a number of areas, as summarised in the Updated Contingency Action Plan published by the Government in July.
It was agreed that all Ministers should review preparations again with their Management Boards and relevant Agencies, and should continue to engage in an extensive programme of outreach to stakeholders through the extensive range of consultative groups already in place.
The Government also noted that a number of exercises are planned for the coming weeks to help further refine preparations and inform the approach to emergency crisis management in the event of a no deal Brexit.
Alongside the extensive contingency preparations at Government and EU level, businesses have been encouraged and incentivised to increase their level of preparedness.
An additional phase of work is now underway involving trader outreach and a ‘call to action’ to ensure that businesses are ready for the new regulatory requirements in the event of a no deal Brexit. Since July the Revenue Commissioners have been writing individually to all businesses trading with the UK and have completed the exercise of issuing 92,000 letters with, to date, 18,000 follow up phone calls.
To support this effort, the Government agreed to a new phase of a central communications campaign focusing on a call to action to businesses and other affected sectors, which will be formally launched tomorrow. It also noted that the Ploughing Championships and other similar events are being used as platforms to reach and engage different stakeholder groups.
The Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform will bring a further memo to Government shortly on Budget preparations, including the implications of a no deal Brexit scenario.
In addition to existing Ministerial and official level co-ordination structures, the Government itself will continue to be briefed on no deal Brexit issues on a very regular basis.