Ms Barbara Nolan:

We are moving forward in a constructive way.

On health and safety issues and issues which touch on standards, if it has been said once, it has been said a million times that there will be no compromise on health and safety standards or standards in general; they are not up for negotiation. The Commissioner has said this, as did her predecessor, while the EU ambassador in the United States has reiterated it. It has, therefore, been said on many occasions. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, but people should have confidence in us that, during the negotiations, we will ensure European standards are not lowered in striking a trade deal.