Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It should be clear to the Deputy from what I said that I could not and would not negotiate or be in a position to negotiate as that is up to the EU 27. The EU is negotiating on our behalf and I was not at any stage negotiating with my British counterpart. That was not my job. Of course, I was prepared to hear what he had to say and to express some concerns that we had. The idea that we would negotiate was absolutely out of the question. I met other ministers and I can provide the Deputy with some details. Again, I did not negotiate with them.

In November, I met my French counterpart, Ms Élisabeth Borne, and this was very close to the date on which I met Mr. Grayling. In May I met Professor Péter Balázs, the EU co-ordinator for the North Sea-Mediterranean TEN-T corridor and Mr. Brian Simpson, the EU co-ordinator for the Motorways of the Sea programme. Brexit was a key point on the agenda and both co-ordinators were cognisant of the unique challenges facing Ireland as a result of the UK's decision to leave the European Union. In October 2017, I met the European Transport Commissioner, Ms Violeta Bulc on a visit to Ireland and raised with her Ireland's concerns on the implications of Brexit for transport and connectivity. I also met these people on other occasions but they were not necessarily all formal meetings. We met at Council meetings, for example, to discuss relevant matters. I had met Commissioner Bulc at the transport Council meeting in Luxembourg in June 2017. In September I held a conference call with Mr. Ken Skates, the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills, on Brexit-related matters.

In 2017 I met the Austrian Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology to discuss Brexit and road safety. I also met with members of the external affairs committee of the National Assembly for Wales on matters primarily relating to Brexit. In May 2017 I met the Swedish Minister for Infrastructure, Anna Johansson, to discuss road safety and Brexit matters. I also met the UK Secretary of State, Lynne Truss MP. I can keep going.