Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes, that is the objective. I do not think Deputy Troy understands what I am saying. The objective is for such travel to be absolutely seamless. Operational matters will be left to the companies in question.

Deputy Munster asked whether I had met my counterpart in the United Kingdom. I met my UK counterpart, the Secretary of State for Transport, Mr. Chris Grayling, MP, on Brexit matters on three occasions over the past 20 months. I met him at my request in London on 26 May 2017 to discuss the transport implications of Brexit. I met him again at my request at the margins of the transport Council of Ministers in Brussels on 5 December 2017 and, more recently, at the British Secretary of State's request, on 8 November 2018 in Dublin.

With the most recent meeting, the parameters of the discussion were clearly communicated to the Secretary of State in advance, particularly the need to respect fully the mandate of the European Union's chief negotiator as negotiating for the EU 27, and that the discussion could not stray into the area of negotiations. At that meeting on 8 November, Secretary of State Grayling outlined the key areas of concern for the UK relating to transport. I set out the importance of continued transport connectivity between Ireland and the UK, including with respect to ports, aviation, road transport and cross-border rail. I stressed the importance of finalising the withdrawal agreement, highlighted the importance of the UK landbridge as a route to European markets for us and the need for Irish trade to move efficiently through ports. I stressed that with the future EU-UK relationship, Ireland wants to see the closest possible links between the EU and the UK across a wide area. I can also provide the Deputy with details of meetings I have had with other transport ministers if she so wishes.