Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

With regard to the Brexit negotiations, how does the ambassador plan to assist and put his shoulder to the wheel to give momentum and support to the negotiations over the next days, week and months? Migration has become a big challenge since the European Council meeting last week. Does the ambassador believe an agreement, understanding or some better way forward can be found during the Austrian Presidency? It is vital. It is something that comes up as a serious problem at different times. For once and for all there has to be a sound and sensible solution to the migration problem and to controlling and containing it and having a solution that is acceptable to everybody. I am interested in the ambassador's views on that.

In planning for enlargement, does the ambassador believe there will be an agreement reached during the Austrian Presidency with regard to the future enlargement of the EU and the issues, complications, debating and negotiations that will have to take place in advance of anything like that? Does the ambassador see agreement being reached? I am very interested. I like to see people doing their work and plotting and planning their work. I have been going through the ambassador's work programme for the six months of the Austrian Presidency. It is certainly an impressive document by any stretch of the imagination and one that shows the ambassador will hit the ground running. The programme of work is very impressive. I am also very interested in the planned conference on subsidiarity. Does the ambassador think he will be inviting representatives from national parliaments to attend that conference? It is an important issue. How many players will be invited to give their views and considerations from their experience of the issue?

Austria is very like Ireland. It is a medium-sized country.

How will medium-sized countries like Austria and Ireland fare in areas such as trade, tourism and agriculture after Brexit? Will we survive the knock of Brexit? Will we continue to grow as we have done in the past 40 years? Austria and Ireland have changed and evolved a great deal in 40 years. How does the ambassador predict we will fare in the 40 years post Brexit? I ask him to reply to my questions and those of my colleagues at his convenience.