Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I stress again that the Government acknowledges the unique circumstance that is Northern Ireland and the unique circumstances that exist on the island of Ireland. These will remain our priorities in the context of our relationship with the United Kingdom as it prepares to withdraw from the European Union but, more particularly, our relationship with the European Union in the context of the forthcoming negotiations.

I did acknowledge this result and the majority vote in the context of my engagements with the Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers, and other political leaders. It is important that all stakeholders and all political leaders are involved in what will be a very exciting challenge, and the Government has a clear plan in place to deal with that.

The contingency framework maps the key issues that will be most important to Ireland in weeks, months and years ahead. We have already published a summary of key actions that will be taken to address the contingencies arising from the decision of the UK. I note the formation today of the European affairs committee and I was pleased to address a meeting of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence in the past two weeks. I note also the establishment of the committee on the Good Friday Agreement, which to my mind will have a specific task of ensuring that the issues on the island of Ireland are fully factored into the negotiated framework and process.

See this speech in context