To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister , pursuant to AQW 2120/16-21, for an update on the staffing formation of BREXIT teams within their Department; and the steps taken to consult with and engage the community and voluntary sector.

The governance structures outlined in AQW 2120/16-21 are now in place. Senior officials have been nominated within all Departments to sit on an Inter-departmental Coordination Group, chaired jointly by the Permanent Secretaries of the Departments of Finance and Economy. Its role is to identify the implications for us of the EU referendum result, oversee engagement with the UK and Irish Governments and the European Union and assist in the development of a negotiating strategy for the Executive. An EU Future Relations Division has been created within the Executive Office to support this work.

Departments are engaging directly with their key stakeholders, including the community and voluntary sector, to ensure all challenges and opportunities are being identified and fed into the discussions.