Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are under absolutely no illusion about the nature and scale of the Brexit challenge and we have a clear and comprehensive plan. That has been evident in our approach to date. The Taoiseach has made his own views absolutely clear on the fact he is leading on this and will continue to do so.

All Ministers across Government are also involved as part of comprehensive planning and reaction to the very serious challenges we face as a country. We are absolutely clear.

To continue to talk about a lack of preparation is not the approach that the main Opposition party should take, from a reputational point of view as far as Ireland is concerned. It is very clear that the Government has done deep analysis across all areas of the Brexit network. There are 11 working groups. A significant amount of work has been done in my Department. I will meet the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, on Monday to continue the discussion. It is very clear that the top-level priorities have been identified, namely, trade, economy, Northern Ireland, the peace process, the common travel area and the future of the EU. We have examined the risks, the mitigating factors and what is needed.

The House of Commons has now passed the first stage of the Bill, allowing the Prime Minister to notify the European Union of the intention of the United Kingdom to leave. We are now in a different situation, in that the first formal step has been taken and more is to come in terms of the legislative process and the publication of the White Paper. It will be useful for us to deepen our preparations and, at EU level, detail our priorities. There are ongoing meetings with different sectors, industry and civic society. The all-island dialogue will continue. Another meeting will be held very shortly.

I do not have time to go into the enormous programme of engagement that has been undertaken by the Taoiseach and other Ministers. Let me reassure the House that it has been very intensive and detailed work has been done on all of the implications. Until Article 50 is triggered, formal negotiations will not begin.

Our plan is having an effect. Chief EU negotiator, Michel Barnier, has named four initial priorities. Deputy MacSharry referred to Northern Ireland, which is one of the priorities. I met Mr. Barnier and his team, as did the Taoiseach and a number of other Ministers, and had detailed discussions about our priorities for Brexit. We made our position on not returning to any type of a hard border very clear. His other priorities include protecting the common travel area, which is one of Prime Minister Theresa May's 12 negotiation priorities. As there is greater clarity from the British side, we will be in a position to continue to ensure that our headline priorities are centre stage in our contact with the UK and across the EU and in all the meetings we will continue to have with EU heads of state.

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