Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Kiely. There is an increasing amount of talk about the necessity of a transitional arrangement for Brexit. Senator Craughwell referred to how many Irish people are in Britain. I have heard various estimates, one of 700,000 or perhaps even more. I do not know how many UK citizens are here.

Everybody throughout Europe seems to agree Ireland is a special case and that it must retain the no-border scenario and have a common travel area. Among the French and German people we have met, there seems to be goodwill in this regard. Could Mr. Kiely speak briefly about the transitional arrangement? There is a belief that Brexit will not be worked out within the envisaged timeframe of two years. Could Mr. Kiely comment on what Prime Minister May set out yesterday, particularly the transitional arrangement in respect of Ireland, with which we are naturally preoccupied?