Politics

Ross’s no-deal Brexit plan mistakenly sent to TD he called a donkey

Transport action plan accidentally sent to SF transport spokeswoman Imelda Munster

Minster for Transport Shane Ross has been rebuked in the Dáil after saying Sinn Féin’s Imelda Munster was "like a donkey in the last race at the last fence" unlike her "thoroughbred" party colleagues Pearse Doherty and Aengus Ó Snodaigh.

Fiach Kelly Deputy Political Editor
Wed Apr 10 2019 - 00:57

An action plan for Shane Ross for the day of a no-deal Brexit was mistakenly sent to an opposition TD whom the Minister for Transport previously compared to a donkey.

The plan detailed the times at which he would execute ministerial orders and make arrangements to keep public transport running between the Republic and Northern Ireland, among other issues, if Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal.

It specifically laid down a list of actions to be taken at set times, but was emailed to Sinn Féin transport spokeswoman Imelda Munster by mistake.

Ms Munster and Mr Ross have a testy relationship, and Mr Ross last month apologised for comparing the Louth TD to "a donkey at the last fence".

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It is understood the email was mistakenly sent to Ms Munster by officials in Mr Ross’s department. In effect, it outlined how and when Mr Ross would enact the measures outlined by the Government in its no-deal planning on the day the UK crashes out of the EU without a deal.

Special summit

The Dublin-Rathdown TD will be one of the frontline Ministers to respond publicly on behalf of the Government in the event of a no-deal Brexit. It is understood a number of other Ministers have similar action plans.

It is expected that EU leaders will offer UK prime minister Theresa May an extension to the article 50 negotiating period at a special summit this evening to prevent the UK leaving the EU without a deal at 11pm this Friday.

When contacted, a spokesperson for Tánaiste Simon Coveney, who has overall responsibility for Brexit, said: "The email you refer to was an operational note from a department official about the provisions of the Brexit omnibus Bill, the content of which is public and has been thoroughly debated in the Dáil".

“The Government and the EU are doing everything we can to avoid no-deal and ensure we never have to use our omnibus legislation.”

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