Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. I to 18, inclusive, together.

The place of the UK in the European Union is of real national importance for Ireland and is a strategic priority for the Government. We are, therefore, watching developments very closely, engaging with our counterparts and doing all we can to help to keep the United Kingdom in the European Union. When I met with Prime Minister Cameron in London on 18 June, we discussed his pledge to hold an in-out referendum on EU membership before the end of 2017, the general outline of his proposals for EU reform, the thinking around treaty change and other issues relating to the EU-UK relationship. We also discussed our specific concerns about the impact a change in the nature of the EU-UK relationship could have on economic and trade links between our two countries and on stability in Northern Ireland. As I described previously in the House, on 23 June, that meeting was both positive and constructive. The Prime Minister did not ask for any particular support in respect of any proposal. However, I made it clear to him how much value we attach to the fact that both our countries are members of the European Union. I said that, without necessarily agreeing on all points, Ireland will be as helpful as it can be in the negotiations.

The issue is obviously of great importance to the European Union as a whole and it arises frequently in discussions with my EU counterparts, as it did last weekend. At the European Council on 25 and 26 June, Prime Minister Cameron presented a brief outline of his thinking, following meetings with most of the leaders of the European Union. A lengthy debate did not take place at that meeting, but it was agreed that consultations would be undertaken to see how the issues might be progressed. At the October European Council meeting, which will be held on 15 and 16 October, President Tusk intends updating Heads of State and Government on the state of play of the technical work that has been under way in Brussels since the June discussion.

Prime Minister Cameron has informed his colleagues and partners of his intention to present his proposals after the European Council meeting in October. The arrangements for detailed discussions on these proposals have yet to he agreed, but it is expected that there will be further consideration by Heads of State or Government at the European Council meeting to be held in December. It is not clear at this stage whether the British reform proposals will require treaty change. We would in general have serious reservations about opening up the European Union treaties. However, the substance and scope of the proposals and what is eventually acceptable to all EU partners will need to be examined before the possible need for treaty change and the form of such change can be assessed.

I welcome the publication in June by the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs on the EU-UK relationship. It acknowledges that British membership is important not just for Ireland, but for the European Union as a whole. The report makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the issues at stake and is a powerful symbol of the cross-party consensus that Ireland is best served by our closest neighbour and good friend remaining in the Union.

Departments, led by my the Department, are also very much engaged on the matter and have been for some time. In May, a new division was established in my Department to focus specifically on relations between Ireland and Britain, including bilateral issues that arise in the context of the EU-UK debate. That division also has responsibility for Northern Ireland where, of course, the impact of a British exit would be most severely and acutely felt. Preparatory work has already been undertaken on questions that might arise for Ireland in the event of a possible British exit from the Union. Of course, in that hypothetical situation much would depend on future EU-UK arrangements.

I wish to emphasise that the main aspect of our work has been on examining how to support UK membership of the Union rather than on planning for its withdrawal. The Government fully recognises that the economic dimension is significant. We are in regular contact with business groups and other civil society organisations which appreciate directly how crucial common EU membership is for the Irish-British bilateral economic relationship. Further work is being undertaken to enhance that understanding, including research that the Department of Finance has commissioned from the Economic and Social Research Institute on macro economic links between the United Kingdom and Ireland in the context of our joint membership of the European Union.

I would add that the Government will continue to seek to ensure that Irish perspectives and concerns are understood in the United Kingdom. Our position was set out once again in recent speeches in Britain by myself and by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. In my contribution to the British Irish Association in Cambridge earlier this month, I emphasised the importance of Britain's continuing membership of the European Union, including in the context of stability and prosperity on the island of Ireland. Our embassy in London is also very much engaged in public diplomacy on the issue. However, we are very clear that the final question will be exclusively for the electorate in the United Kingdom to decide.

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