Leo: I’ll share our plans for a no-deal Brexit
Fianna Fail hits out at taoiseach over paper
LEO Varadkar has agreed to share the Government’s plans for a hard EU split following criticism from the Opposition.
The move comes after it emerged a Brexit stakeholders’ forum will receive the briefing papers about legislative details today.
During leaders’ questions, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin accused the Taoiseach of treating the Irish parliament in a “very shabby and dismissive manner”.
He said: “It’s not good enough. You have to acknowledge potentially up to 45 pieces of legislation could be required in the event of a hard Brexit.
“Since when did the stakeholders’ forum take precedence over Dail Eireann in matters of legislation?
“Why isn’t the Government willing to inform the Dail in a timely matter about all of this and surely detailed briefing papers containing the legislative measures should be published and presented to the house?”
The Fine Gael leader said he will publish his party’s plans for a hard EU divorce after Brussels releases notices for a no-deal scenario.
He added: “It’s reasonable to say Brexit is a major threat for Ireland and a major threat to our economy and to our rights and freedoms as citizens and could have major implications for peace and security.
“In terms of preparing for Brexit this is a work in progress, it’s a work in progress this week, it will still be in January.
“This evening, Cabinet will be given a copy of a document on our plans which follow on from that. Tomorrow there will be a briefing with Brexit stakeholders and the Opposition parties.
“Our overriding objective is to ensure we don’t end up in a no-deal scenario and that’s why we are continuing to work with European partners to secure the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement. Mr Martin said it was a “scandalous and a disgraceful treatment” of the Dail.
He added: “I find it incredible what you have just said.
“It seems to me that events have been choreographed to prevent the Dail having any meaningful debate on Brexit preparedness, particularly in the context of a hard Brexit.”