Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will deal with the question raised by Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan first, in which she made reference to the number of organisations under the programme to which we make a contribution. The organisation with the greatest emphasis in this regard, perhaps, is the United Nations. This is crucial to our people. In none of our engagements with any of these international committees or organisations has the issue of Irish neutrality been in any way compromised. Our position regarding our non-aligned status and the fact that we are not members of any military organisation are accepted among the international community.

We have seen the publication in recent times of our new foreign policy review and strategic plan. Specific reference is made to Ireland's neutral status. Our engagement with the EU common security and defence policy, CSDP, is an integral part of the foreign and security policy of the European Union. It provides the European Union with operational capacity to undertake missions outside the European Union for peacekeeping, conflict prevention and the strengthening of international security in accordance with clearly laid down principles of the United Nations contained in a charter. We remain strong supporters of CSDP initiatives, which continue to improve the capacity of the European Union to make contributions to international security, peace and stability, especially in the context of support for the United Nations. In this regard, we will continue to work closely with EU member states. However, I wish to assure Deputy O'Sullivan, as I have done on numerous occasions previously, of the importance and the international recognition of our stated status of being militarily neutral.

I am keen to address the Chairman's important and positive suggestion. He suggested that international visitors, especially EU foreign ministers, who will have an important role to play in the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union, might have an opportunity to visit a Border area. I think that is an excellent suggestion and I would be happy to follow up on that. I am expecting a visit shortly from the EU foreign minister from Luxembourg. I would be happy to give consideration to arranging a visit for him to a Border area. He comes from a small but nevertheless influential state in the European Union. Indeed, it is one of the founding members. Luxembourg experiences in excess of 50,000 people per day crossing the invisible borders from Germany, Belgium and France for work, education and engagement. I would be happy to try to arrange an opportunity for him to visit a Border area.

Last week, I had the opportunity for the first time to meet the key European Parliament figure, Guy Verhofstadt, on a bilateral basis. I issued a formal invitation to him to visit Ireland and engage. This may be an opportunity to invite Mr. Verhofstadt to address the committee. Again, in the context of his visit, I would be happy to make arrangements or to suggest that he might visit a Border area, perhaps even in your constituency, Chairman. The same could apply if we have an opportunity with the chief negotiator, Mr. Barnier, at some stage. He has been to Dublin for formal meetings. I think it would be appropriate that all the key figures visiting Ireland would have an opportunity to see a practical demonstration of the invisible Border. This arises in the context of the peace process and the fact that since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, the North-South relationships in terms of relations among people, trade, commerce, business, education and health are such that the maintenance of that Border is of major national importance for us.

This leads me to the question from Deputy Darragh O'Brien. Our priorities in these negotiations are to ensure that the seamless frictionless invisible Border continues, that nothing adverse to current arrangements will arise and that the unique circumstances derived from the Good Friday Agreement and the particular circumstances relating to North and South would be fully recognised in the context of the negotiations. We will be entering into these negotiations from an all-island perspective. It will involve impressing on our EU colleagues, as well as those from the UK, the unique circumstances that will be required in respect of the final negotiated framework.

On Tuesday, I raised the matter of the timeframe for Article 50 with the UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Brokenshire. He confirmed that matters are still on track having regard to the judicial aspect of things, which has been dealt with and the parliamentary debate, which has taken place. It would appear to be still very much the desire of the British Government that the Article 50 invocation will take place before the end of March.

I wish to make a final comment on our engagement with the EU. I acknowledge the Chairman's welcome suggestion. St. Patrick's Day represents another opportunity where Ministers travelling abroad will be involved in engagements. One of the aspects of the Patrick's Day celebrations this year will be that every Minister who travels abroad will be required to have a Brexit meeting in some respect and inform persons with whom they are engaging of the importance of Ireland's position within the European Union and that irrespective of the vote of the British people, Ireland will not be leaving the European Union but that the unique and special circumstances on the island of Ireland needs to be fully recognised.

The Taoiseach has met a number of his EU prime-ministerial colleagues and I have met all of mine. St. Patrick's Day presents further opportunities. I would be very happy to keep Deputy Darragh O'Brien and other members informed. At this stage I have clocked up in excess of 100 bilateral meetings on the matter of the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union. The central co-ordinating point is in the Department of the Taoiseach in respect of that analysis and the impact assessment across a range of Departments. The Brexit Cabinet committee is meeting again this evening. I again make clear the intent on the part of the Government that the chairmen of these committees and Opposition spokespersons and party leaders be fully informed.

In response to Deputy McLoughlin, it is important that as public representatives, we all avail of the opportunity of listening to people and engaging with stakeholders in the manner in which he suggested. He mentioned agriculture and haulage. This week I attended a meeting in Galway attended by 250 people, all of whom have anxieties and concerns. I know all the political parties are engaged, as is this committee. There is a duty and burden on every one of us, as public representatives, to engage with our citizens and stakeholders in order that we are fully apprised of the issues to help us in the negotiations.

We have done a huge amount of preparation. We are ready for these negotiations. We go into them in a very positive frame of mind and with a positive disposition. The Irish people faced very serious challenges in the past. We have a very experienced team in Brussels. We have spoken to Mr. Barnier on a range of issues - I met him as recently as last week. He is in no doubt as to the unique and special circumstances relating to the island of Ireland, our peace process and our trade links. We go into these negotiations very much prepared but not in any way underestimating what is a serious and difficult challenge.