Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That person's job is to be at the occasions where the Barnier task force is doing its work and we become aware of that. As I said, the Barnier task force will not make any decisions. That is a function of the European Council, which will oversee that politically. I can confirm to the Deputy that the Barnier task force regards the Border and Northern Ireland as one of its top priorities and is proceeding on that.

On Deputy Micheál Martin's point, a raft of detailed options have been gone through in all the sectors I have already mentioned. The point I referred to in response to questions yesterday on the Lancaster House speech made by the British Prime Minister, Mrs. Theresa May, where she stated the United Kingdom has "no preconceived position" in respect of the customs union, is a particularly important issue because it will determine the nature of the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union from where Ireland will continue to negotiate. We have agreed on common travel. That also includes welfare, labour and residency issues, and North-South and east- west issues. We have agreed on the fact that one does not have a traditional border there. It is how one makes these things happen that is important.

See this speech in context