Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, together.

I hosted the 22nd North-South Ministerial Council plenary meeting in Dublin Castle on 4 July. The meeting provided the new Irish Government and the new Northern Ireland Executive with the opportunity to meet formally for the first time and exchange views on a wide range of issues of mutual interest and concern, especially in light of the recent UK referendum decision to leave the EU. We had a detailed discussion on the potential impact of the UK referendum result. It was agreed to work together to ensure that Northern Ireland’s interests are protected and the benefits of North-South co-operation are fully recognised in any new arrangements that emerge as regards the United Kingdom’s future relationship with the European Union. Ten specific actions were agreed to optimise North-South joint planning and engagement on key issues arising following the UK referendum result. This will include a full audit of key North-South work programmes to establish risks and likely impacts arising from the UK’s planned withdrawal from the EU. In the margins of the ministerial council meeting, I had brief bilateral meetings with the First Minister, Arlene Foster, and the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness. We agreed on the need to work together to preserve the benefits of the peace process in any future negotiations.

While proposals for an all-Ireland forum were not discussed at the ministerial council meeting, the Government believes that there is a need for the widest possible conversation on the implications of the referendum result for Ireland, North and South, and for North-South relations. We will continue to explore options to achieve this in a way that is not divisive. I hope to bring forward proposals on this shortly and I will discuss these with all parties.

There is a clear need for broader public dialogue, including on an inclusive all-island basis, on all of the many issues that may face the people of the island, North and South. There will also be an ongoing engagement with other parties in the Oireachtas. This is in addition to the engagement with the Brexit stakeholder group, which has already been meeting for some time now.

On Friday, 24 June, the then UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, telephoned to inform me personally of the result of the referendum and of his intention to resign. He thanked the Irish Government for its support all through the process. Irish and British officials met in Dublin following a commitment made by the Prime Minister and I to early bilateral engagement at senior official level on a number of issues arising in the context of the result of the UK’s EU referendum.

I spoke with the new British Prime Minister, Teresa May, by telephone on 13 July. I offered her my congratulations and best wishes following her appointment that evening. We discussed a range of issues of mutual interest, including the importance of continuing to work together to build on the excellent relationship that now exists between Ireland and Britain, our joint support of the peace process, and the wider development of co-operation between our two countries. We also discussed the important challenges that arise from the recent vote by the UK to leave the European Union. I outlined Ireland’s key areas of concern and shared my perspective on the challenges that lie ahead in the forthcoming negotiations. We agreed to stay in touch and that we would meet each other in the coming weeks.

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