Updated 17:45
The Cabinet has agreed on new laws to protect Ireland if there's a no deal Brexit.
The omnibus bill was signed off on by ministers this morning and will be published on Friday.
With just 38 days to go until the UK leaves the EU, ministers discussed plans for minimising disruption at ports and airports – and measures for protecting the economy and jobs.
They also discussed potential updates to Ireland’s extradition system with the UK and measures to ensure gardaí can continue to cooperate with the PSNI.
Speaking this afternoon, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said his attention is on customs.
He explained: "I'm particularly focused on ensuring our staffing levels in the right agencies - including the Revenue Commissioner - are where we need them to be.
"I believe we will have the 400 staff in place that we have committed to, and ensuring that our physical infrastructure - particularly Dublin Port - is as advanced as it can be for dealing with the different risks that could materialise at the end of March."
The Government will be aiming to secure opposition support for the omnibus bill to get it through the Oireachtas as quickly as possible, ahead of the planned Brexit date of March 29th.
Negotiations
Tánaiste Simon Coveney travelled to Brussels yesterday to discuss the ongoing negotiations – with UK officials this week set to continue their efforts to secure legally-binding changes to the Irish border backstop.
The EU has repeatedly warned that Brexit Withdrawal Agreement – including the backstop – is not open for re-negotiation, although Europe is willing to offer reassurances outside of the agreement.
Speaking after a meeting with chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier, Minster Coveney said Ireland is spending hundreds of millions of euro preparing for a no deal scenario.
In a tweet he said "nobody should doubt EU solidarity" on the issue.
Working with @MichelBarnier as ONE TEAM on #Brexit - nobody should doubt EU solidarity. 🇪🇺🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/77NTI6CYlS
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) February 18, 2019
Theresa May is due to return to Brussels tomorrow, while UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will meet EU officials on Thursday to discuss his alternative exit proposals.
"Brexit must not limit opportunity"
Meanwhile, the Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone appeared before the Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs this afternoon to outline how her department is preparing for Brexit.
She argued that the current generation of young people will be those who will have to live with the consequences of what's decided in Brexit negotiations.
Minister Zappone raised concerns about a potential hard border, access to services and education, and the recognition of qualifications.
She told committee members: "A hard border and regression to the violence of the past is to be avoided at all costs.
"Brexit must not limit opportunity for those on the island of Ireland... and access to services must be guaranteed."
Earlier, chairman of the committee Alan Farrell said any issues regarding the mutual recognition of qualifications between Ireland and the UK would “have an effect and an impact upon Ireland’s ability to recruit the vast number of social workers – in particular nurses – that we need.”
