H.E. Mr. Robin Barnett:

I thank the Chairman, Deputies and Senators very much for the invitation to address the committee today. I am well aware of the very important contribution that this and other committees here at Leinster House make to the democratic process. Indeed, one of my very first engagements as ambassador to Ireland was to address the Ceann Comhairle's EU symposium at the Mansion House, where I met many Members of the Houses for the first time. I and my team attach great importance to engaging with members of the Oireachtas and will continue to ensure that we regularly spend time at Leinster House. We will always be at the disposal of members of this committee.

The strong ties between Irish and UK parliamentarians are a really important element of our broader bilateral relationship, as evidenced by the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, among other things. It is in this context that I am here today to speak about the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. I propose to say a few words about the letter submitted from the Prime Minister to European Council President, Donald Tusk and about the next stages in the process, and I intend to say a little about the UK-Ireland dimension. Then I look forward to hearing members' comments and trying to answer any questions they may have.

As members are all aware, the Prime Minister wrote to the President of the European Council, Mr. Donald Tusk, notifying him of the UK's intention to withdraw from the European Union, in accordance with Article 50 of the Treaty of the European Union. Upon receipt of this letter, the two-year period for conducting the exit negotiations has begun.

The European Council will now agree guidelines on the EU's negotiating position, which we expect to be agreed at the European Council meeting on 29 April. Once these guidelines are agreed, the European Commission will present its first draft negotiating mandate for adoption by the remaining EU member states. Once that mandate has been approved, the Commission will formally open negotiations with the UK. For our part, we stand ready to start talks on the substance as soon as possible.

I am sure members have all seen the text of the letter, which brings together what we are proposing to our European partners as the basis for a smooth negotiation process. My Prime Minister has set the UK's guiding principles. The UK's unique relationship with Ireland and the importance of the peace process in Northern Ireland comprise one of those principles. If I may, I will set out some of those principles before returning to discuss Ireland, which is, I am sure, one of our main interests here today.

First, in withdrawing from the EU, our overarching commitment is to ensuring that Europe remains strong and prosperous, capable of projecting its values, leading in the world, and defending itself from threats. Through a new deep and special partnership, we want the UK to play its part in achieving these goals, and I hope that members will agree that such a partnership is in all our interests, including Ireland's.

On trade, we want to work towards securing a comprehensive agreement, taking into account both economic and security co-operation. We propose a bold and ambitious free trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Given the scale of bilateral trade, running at over €1 billion per week and employing more than 400,000 people, in addition to the strong trading relationships we enjoy with other EU member states, we believe that such an agreement would be in the best interests of Ireland and of all our EU partners.

Crucially, we also want to work together to minimise disruption and to give as much certainty as possible. In particular, the Prime Minister placed great importance on putting all our citizens first, in the UK and EU, and aiming to strike an early agreement on their rights. We are clear that providing certainty is in the best interest of our citizens, as well as our businesses and investors, in all of our countries. I have heard that message loud and clear right across Ireland.

We recognise that two years is not a long time to reach a comprehensive settlement. We start, however, from a position of close regulatory alignment, trust in each other's institutions and a spirit of co-operation stretching back decades. Therefore, we believe that a comprehensive agreement can be agreed in the time period set out in the treaty. Let me emphasise here that we will approach these negotiations constructively and respectfully. It is in the interests of the UK and the EU that our exit be as smooth and orderly as possible.

The UK Government starts from a clear position of what is at stake for Ireland. As members know, the Prime Minister's letter sets out – I quote in full – that:

The Republic of Ireland is the only EU member state with a land border with the United Kingdom. We want to avoid a return to a hard border between our two countries, to be able to maintain the Common Travel Area between us, and to make sure that the UK's withdrawal from the EU does not harm the Republic of Ireland. We also have an important responsibility to make sure that nothing is done to jeopardise the peace process in Northern Ireland, and to continue to uphold the Belfast Agreement.

When they met here at Government Buildings in January, the British Prime Minister and the Taoiseach confirmed their support for a "seamless, frictionless Border" and the continuation of the common travel area. This is now reflected firmly in our negotiating principles. Both then and last week, the British Prime Minister reaffirmed her personal commitment to strengthening this significant and crucial relationship as the UK leaves the European Union, EU. At every level of government, we are committed to ensuring this relationship continues to prosper. Of course, both our Governments remain committed to upholding the Belfast Agreement and its institutions. It is vital that devolved government and all of the institutions under the successive agreements are returned and operate in Northern Ireland as soon as possible. The British Government’s unrelenting focus is on achieving that objective.

The UK and Ireland enjoy a special and unique relationship. It is testament to the importance of the relationship that the Taoiseach was the first foreign leader to visit Prime Minister May in Downing Street. Since then, there has been consistent high-level ministerial engagement. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Prime Minister have all visited Dublin in the past six months. Our existing contacts at official level continue; last September we hosted in London the annual summit of Irish Secretaries General and UK Permanent Secretaries, which is again another unique and important facet of our bilateral co-operation. Of course, there has been regular and close co-operation between parliamentarians. We have received delegations from the House of Lords European Union committee, the House of Commons Select Committee on Exiting the European Union, a delegation from the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly and the Select Committee on Northern Ireland Affairs. A delegation of UK parliamentarians also came to Dublin for a very successful CHAMP event with a focus on peace and reconciliation. I know that many committee members engaged enthusiastically with these delegations.

I am also aware that many Oireachtas Members are regular visitors to Westminster and I am very keen to encourage and facilitate as much co-operation as possible between our two Parliaments. One of my main priorities since arriving in Ireland just over six months ago has been to speak to, and much more important, to listen to as many people as possible about the challenges and opportunities they see ahead. I have attached particular importance to engaging with communities in the Border counties. I have, for example, spoken to a Brexit forum in Monaghan alongside Ministers, Deputy Heather Humphreys and Deputy Michael Creed. This visit also gave me the opportunity to hear first-hand about the problems, for example, that mushroom suppliers have been experiencing, as well as the forward-looking preparations that local businesses are taking to ensure they remain competitive. Last month I was in Donegal where I had the opportunity to witness the excellent collaboration between the city and county councils of Donegal and Derry-Strabane. The joint report published by these two councils sets out the opportunities and challenges faced by the north-west city region. I am mindful of the many successful regional interdependencies, such as this these, which have developed in recent years. On my travels, I have also seen the excellent collaboration between start-ups such as Dogpatch Labs here in Dublin, which the Chancellor of the Exchequer visited, and Ludgate in Skibbereen and its British counterparts. I have every confidence in the creativity and energy of companies such as these and the private sector more broadly to make the most of every opportunity in the years ahead.

Before I hand over to the Chairman, let me reassure members that the UK is not turning its back on the world. That could not be further from the truth. We want to play our part in making sure Europe remains strong and prosperous, projecting its values and able to lead in the world. On the world stage, the UK is playing and will continue to play a leading role, whether in the area of humanitarian assistance, the fight to end modern slavery and human trafficking or tackling climate change.

I hope I have given the committee a clear sense of the UK’s position as it heads into these negotiations, especially as it relates to Ireland. My job and that of my embassy team here is to work hard to promote and support our strong bilateral relationship and ensure that the shared concerns that both the UK and Ireland have for the future are taken into account. As British Prime Minister Theresa May has said, the task ahead of us is momentous but not beyond us. I now look forward to hearing from members. I thank the Chairman.