Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 6, inclusive, together.

An extensive programme of engagement with all other EU member states and the EU institutions has been under way for some time. Since the UK referendum on 23 June 2016, I have met Chancellor Merkel, President Hollande, Prime Minister May, President Anastasiades, Prime Minister Muscat and Prime Minister Rajoy. I also met the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and the head of the Commission's negotiations task force, Michel Barnier, in Dublin. In all my meetings, I reiterated and explained Ireland's particular concerns arising from Brexit including in respect of our economy and trade, the Northern Ireland peace process and Border issues, the common travel area and citizenship issues and the future of the EU itself. I will continue to engage with my EU counterparts, as will other Government Ministers, in the coming weeks to emphasise Ireland’s concerns and to ensure they are fully reflected in the EU position when the negotiations commence. There is a clear understanding from all of this of the significant implications for Ireland arising from Brexit. While this does not guarantee that it will be possible to mitigate all the negative consequences of the UK's eventual departure, it is vital to continue to engage to defend our interests and promote our views to the greatest extent possible.

Following last month's European Council meeting, a short meeting of the 27 EU Heads of State and Government focused on how the Brexit negotiations will be managed from the EU perspective. We agreed that the European Council will agree guidelines for the negotiations when Article 50 is triggered. We reconfirmed the principles agreed last June: that there can be no negotiation without notification, that the Single Market and the four freedoms are indivisible and that the UK will remain a full member of the EU until the withdrawal negotiations are concluded. There was no detailed discussion about the future of Europe.

This will be the focus of a separate summit in Malta on 3 February.

As was set out in our statement after that meeting, Brexit will be constantly reviewed by the 27 EU Heads of State and Government and the negotiating guidelines will be updated as necessary. Mr. Michel Barnier will be the Commission chief negotiator and will lead the technical negotiations. The General Affairs Council, the European Parliament, the committee of ambassadors to the EU and the official level working groups will also play important roles in this process. The next European Council meeting is scheduled to take place on 9 and 10 March. An agenda is not yet available but I will, as usual, report to the House both before and after the meeting in March.

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