Thread by @SNevin1

The Irish Government has today published the full details of its legislation to deal with a no deal Brexit. The so-called Omnibus Bill comprises 15 pieces of legislation across 9 Government departments who have worked on the legislation for over a year dfa.ie/news-and-media…

'The Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019' addresses the practical issues that would be created by a disorderly UK exit from the EU.

It deals with issues, big and small, such as facilitating agreements between Ireland and the UK to ensure Irish and UK students will not be liable for foreign fees.

The bill also deals with cross-border arrangements for healthcare, so that patients in Ireland can continue to be reimbursed if they get medical treatment in the UK, and so patients can travel to the UK for emergency organ transplants.

It addresses welfare, meaning that pensioners and other Irish welfare recipients living in the UK will continue to get payments.

In addition the laws seek to protect the rights of Irish employees of British companies if they go insolvent.

The bill contains a range of measures for grant aid and insurance supports for businesses to deal with the impact of a no-deal Brexit.

It also makes amendments to existing legislation concerning the Common Travel Area, extradition arrangements, cross-border rail and bus services, and the all-island Single Electricity Market.

The Government says it will work closely with the opposition to ensure the bill is passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) and signed into law by President Michael D Higgins before the UK is scheduled to leave on 29 March.

The government plans to have the Bill passed in the Dáil (Commons) by 8 March, before it heads to the Seanad (Lords), where it is hoped it will pass by 15 March.

At the launch Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD, said, "Our focus remains on the UK ratifying the Withdrawal Agreement... We are doing all we can to avoid a no deal scenario, but we need to be ready in case it does happen".

Curiously, the bill makes no mention of border infrastructure or customs and regulatory inspections in the event of a no deal. The Irish are still playing their cards close to their chest and maintaining the line that they have made no preparations whatsoever for a hard border.