Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have held discussions with each of my 26 EU foreign ministerial colleagues. Indeed, I can add Foreign Secretary Johnson to that list since I have met him on a number of occasions. I have been impressing on them the importance of the trading relationship between Ireland and the UK and the importance of maintaining the common travel area. As the Deputy will be aware, we have enjoyed the common travel area with the United Kingdom since the early 1920s. I have also impressed on them the important role played by the European Union in our peace process. I have been engaging at that level. I wish to recognise the important role played by the Taoiseach as a member of the European Council. He has engaged with his colleagues at EU Head of Government level. We are fully prepared for what is a difficult and challenging encounter. We trust the negotiations will commence on target in late March. We are ready to make our case in the strongest possible way.

In recent days I spoke with all EU ambassadors in Dublin. In Brussels last week I spoke with the Spanish foreign minister because there had been a change in personnel there. I have made preparations for a visit to Helsinki as part of an ongoing process to deepen engagement, especially with our like-minded colleagues within the European Union.

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