AQW 1912/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 11/02/2020
Answered On Date: 26/02/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on his Department's Brexit preparations in line with the Northern Ireland protocol; and how many people are working on ensuring compliance with the protocol.

Answer:

I recognise that farmers and businesses are concerned about the impact of the NI Protocol could have on them. Successfully managing transition pre and post EU exit will provide a significant challenge for DAERA, the agri-food industry and other sectors.

An Executive sub-committee on EU Exit issues has been established and will be a key structure in the co-ordination of our response to the out workings of the Withdrawal Agreement including the Northern Ireland Protocol.

To support the Executive sub-committee the Executive Office have set up a cross-departmental Trade and Protocol group to co-ordinate the work of officials across all the affected Departments. This group will help ensure that Ministers can provide strategic oversight and direction to meet key activities. The scope of this work includes understanding the implications and practical delivery of the Protocol and ensuring the Northern Ireland position is represented in the decision making structures in Whitehall.

Many of the detailed arrangements for the implementation of the Protocol have still to be determined and will be subject to discussion between the EU and UKG through the Specialised and Joint Committee structures.

The Department currently has 253 staff working in Brexit related posts. We have assessed our need as slightly over 400 and there is steady progress in filling these posts. This will be kept under review.