Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is right. We will continue to make every effort to ensure that our position is clearly set out bilaterally and at European Union level. While we recognise that the referendum on 23 June is solely a matter for the UK electorate to decide, I am co-ordinating a package of visits by Ministers. I was in London recently and I met once again with Secretary of State, Philip Hammond. I met also with members of the Labour Party parliamentary party there and representatives of 35 Irish community organisations in London. I intend to make a number of further visits to the UK in advance of the referendum. My next visit is to Liverpool and Manchester on 1 and 2 June. My Department is co-ordinating a package of visits by other Ministers who will visit the UK in the coming weeks. The destinations include Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow where there is a strong Irish community. Last night my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Paul Kehoe, visited Birmingham. I urge all Deputies in the House to become involved and engaged and to make contact with business, friends and associates. I include Deputy O'Brien and his party in that regard and trust that they will do the necessary because it is in our national strategic interest that the UK remains firmly engaged with the European Union.

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