Brexit is likely to affect some day-to-day consumer issues, particularly in a no deal scenario. In such a no deal scenario, the departure of the UK from the EU is likely to create some confusion, and on occasion difficulty, around your consumer rights and options.

Here you can find information on how services like banking, online shopping, food prices and energy supply may be affected.

Government is working with our EU partners to help mitigate some of these matters further to help EU citizens where possible.

Healthcare

Ireland and the UK have a number of areas in the provision of healthcare where we are interconnected.

Some of our medicines are moved through the UK to get to Ireland. When the UK leaves the EU, Ireland is highly unlikely to face an immediate impact on medicine supplies in the period immediately after 29 March. This is because there are already additional stocks of medicines routinely built into the Irish medicine supply chain.

Both the Irish and British Governments are committed to maintaining the current healthcare arrangements under the Common Travel Area. Under the CTA, Irish citizens and British citizens who live in, work in, or visit the other state have the right to access healthcare there. Other North South cooperation arrangements will also continue on the island of Ireland.

The Government is working to ensure that new arrangements will provide for continued access to the health services between Ireland and the UK, including on the island of Ireland, which patients in both jurisdictions currently access.

General medical supplies

The pharmaceutical industry and medicines wholesalers, who are working closely with Government in this area, are confident there are enough stocks of medicines in the country to manage any potential supply issues at ports.

Anyone with an ongoing need for medicines should fill their prescription as normal.

You do not need to order extra quantities of medicines or extra prescriptions ahead of Brexit. If you do, you could disrupt existing stock levels and hamper the supply of medicines for other patients.

If you have any concerns, please speak to your pharmacist.

Access to health services

Irish citizens and British citizens who live in, work in, or visit the other State will continue to have the right to access healthcare there. Government has introduced legislation to ensure these access arrangements can be maintained post-Brexit, even in the event of no deal. For more information on health related matters post-Brexit, please visit the Department of Health website.

Cross border access to health services

Cross border health services (like the cardiology and cancer treatments in Altnagelvin, Derry and paediatric cardiology and maternity services in Dublin) are managed by service level agreements. Even in a no deal Brexit scenario, services like these can be expected to continue.

Both the Irish and UK Governments are fully committed to continuing existing cross border arrangements.

Finances

Your bank account

The five largest retail banks operating in Ireland are regulated by the Central Bank. Therefore, it is not expected that these services will be impacted for consumers. However, UK financial services firms operating in Ireland will have to take steps to be authorised to operate within the EU. We expect that the majority of firms will take appropriate action to continue to provide services across the EU.

Consumers are advised to contact their banking/financial services providers if they have any concerns. The Central Bank also has more information.

Making or receiving financial payments

SEPA is the Single Euro Payments Area which enables payment transfers in euro between accounts in SEPA countries.

The UK Government has committed to keep its payment rules in line with SEPA in order to continue its access post-Brexit.

In the event that the UK is excluded from SEPA, some additional costs may arise for transfers in euro moving between accounts in the UK and accounts in the EU, and it may take longer than you are used to.

Customers should contact their finance provider if they have any further queries. The Central Bank also has more information.

Insurance Cover

The majority of insurance firms selling policies from the UK and Gibraltar into Ireland are implementing plans to ensure service continuity post-Brexit, including in the event of a no deal Brexit. The Government has also planned legislation to ensure continuity of service for existing contracts for a period of three-years.

If you have any concerns about your insurance policy, you should contact your insurance provider. For further information, see the Central Bank website.

For information on motor insurance, please see Travelling and Visiting .

Energy Supply

Irish electricity supply, transport fuels, gas and coal are secure and Brexit does not give cause for concern that these will be disrupted.

Food Supply

It is important to note that Ireland exports more food than it imports. We will have food in the event of a No Deal Brexit. If however there is No Deal, recent commentary points out that currency fluctuation coupled with trade tariffs might mean an impact on costs of imports.

Irish consumers will continue to have the option, as they do today, to choose from range of products from across the world. In addition distributors, manufacturers and retailers have been working hard and making considerable investment to sustain supplies, increase warehousing and on other contingency measures. Suppliers continue to have alternative choices of products thanks to our EU membership and the Single Market.

Mobile phones & roaming

In the event of no deal, mobile operators would no longer be legally required to offer roaming at no additional charge to customers travelling to the UK when they exit the EU. That is a commercial decision for mobile operators.

However, Government has liaised with the industry on this issue and providers here have indicated that no major changes in pricing are expected in the immediate period following the UK leaving the EU. Either way, all operators must make customers well aware of any roaming charges they could incur, if and when, they use mobile devices in the UK. If you have any concerns, you should contact your provider directly.

ComReg, the independent telecoms regulator, will continue to ensure that all providers meet relevant obligations in areas such as roaming alerts. ComReg also has information for customers in relation to roaming on their website, including tips on how to avoid inadvertent roaming.

Consumer Rights

EU consumer law will not apply to and in the UK after its departure from the EU. Current redress mechanisms, as provided for under EU consumer law, will therefore not be available. For example, if you are in a dispute with a UK-based trader, you may not be able to avail of the European Consumer Centre network or the European Small Claims Procedure.

However, consumers in Ireland can take individual action through the Irish Courts if they have purchased online from UK traders who do business in the EU.

Data Protection

Schools, colleges and state agencies are working to ensure adequate data protection including engagement, where relevant, with UK counterparts.

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