Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. From his bilateral meetings with his counterparts in Europe, is he absolutely assured that foreign ministers in Governments across the EU are absolutely clear and agree with Ireland's unique position regarding future negotiations and the unique nature of our relationship with Britain and, more importantly, with Northern Ireland, which is copperfastened under the Good Friday Agreement? I would like to get a sense of the Minister's view on it.

Prime Minister May's statement outlined a hard Brexit, which poses a great threat to us economically. We could be looking at customs, tariffs and more difficulties for trade. Ireland does €60 billion worth of trade with Britain per annum. What are the Minister's views on Commissioner Pierre Moscovici's comments that there would be no interim or phased customs arrangements and that no discussions on customs could happen until the two years has elapsed, whereas Commissioner Michel Barnier's view appears to be very different?

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