Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Along with most of my colleagues in the House, I had advocated a different outcome in the UK referendum. However, I fully respect the decision that the people of the UK have made. It is very important in the immediate aftermath of that decision that we recognise that there will be no immediate change to the free flow of people, goods and services between our islands. We have engaged in contingency planning across all Departments and that will continue. The Taoiseach gave an outline of some of the issues. He is attending the Council meeting today and he will also attend the meeting tomorrow. We have a North-South meeting on Monday where undoubtedly these issues will be further discussed. I assure the Deputy that the Government will be fully involved in all negotiations to represent Ireland's interests.

With respect to the particular points the Deputy made, I note on Monday, 27 June during a debate in the Assembly, a joint position from the DUP and Sinn Féin was put forward by the First Minister in a statement on behalf of herself and the Deputy First Minister. This emphasised their determination to work together in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland and outlined the establishment of teams in the Northern Ireland civil service to work with Dublin, London and Brussels on dealing with the outcome of the referendum. This is consistent with the position of the Government which has made clear the priority it attaches to the implications for Northern Ireland in the negotiations which lie ahead.

We underlined the primacy of the Good Friday Agreement in setting out the relationships on and between these islands. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will be in Belfast for the bilateral meeting with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the review meeting of the Stormont House Agreement and Fresh Start. The latter will be attended by the First and Deputy First Ministers. They will discuss the referendum and its implications. That is part of the agenda for that meeting. The main objective of the North-South Ministerial Council, which will take place on Monday, will be to discuss the very issues the Deputy has outlined, including the implications for Northern Ireland and the all-island implications of the vote with particular reference to the four priority areas the Taoiseach outlined.

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