Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

We have a number of bilateral arrangements in place, both North-South and east-west, in terms of the proposed Brexit situation. It is important to state at the outset that along with our colleagues in the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the UK police and in the intelligence services in the UK and Northern Ireland, we have a resolve and a determination to maintain the existing levels of co-operation, which have been heralded as being at an all-time high. We will continue our shared focus on ensuring we protect communities on the island of Ireland and along the east-west axis. We make an input into the institutional arrangements and we are consulted on a number of the arrangements that need to be put in place.

It is important to remember that we had strong bilateral relationships before the EU institutions were put in place. We also have the experience of our strong bilateral relationships with other countries that are outside the EU arrangements. The important thing is the commitment of our colleagues in the police and intelligence services to ensuring the service provided to communities is in no way diminished. We have increased patrols in Border areas as part of Operation Thor and in response to the murders of two of our colleagues, Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and Garda Tony Golden, whose anniversary occurred yesterday. We have to respond to the threat faced by our members and to the criminality of those who are exploiting the Border for rural crime. That is why there is increased visibility. Of course those patrols will be very useful in the case of any change in the arrangements at the Border.