Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As has been the norm for many years, we always have an opportunity to discuss the agenda for Council meetings before they are held and for Deputies to make comments on them. The Government will published a more detailed document before 29 April. I do not have the exact date now but I will come back to the Deputy with it.

I disagree with the Deputy that the document circulated by the EU in respect of the draft guidelines is a failure. The guidelines are not a failure. They include a very strong acknowledgement of our unique circumstances and special case, the need to protect the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement and our intention to maintain bilateral arrangements with the UK such as in respect of the common travel area. The draft guidelines will be circulated among the 27 member states. The priorities which we have outlined for some time are also referred to specifically in the letter from Prime Minister May to President Tusk of the Council. They are also referenced specifically in the European Parliament paper. The Parliament has to give approval to the negotiated document at the end of the day. From that point of view, chief negotiator Barnier, President Tusk of the Council, President Juncker of the Commission, Prime Minister May and the European Parliament all recognise Ireland's particular, special and unique circumstances.

It is also fair to say that Gibraltar is a different case from Ireland. Ireland and Northern Ireland, the peace process and the common travel area are all guaranteed by the Irish and British Governments under the Good Friday Agreement and an internationally legally binding treaty registered with the United Nations. Gibraltar joined the EU with the UK and any change in the status of Gibraltar is a matter between the UK and the Kingdom of Spain. That is a clear position, which is different from what applies here where we have a peace process, a Border, an internationally legally binding agreement and where the priorities outlined by the Government are contained in the EU draft guidelines, the British Prime Minister's letter and the European Parliament paper. It has taken negotiation and contact on a regular basis to have people fully understand our special status, our unique circumstances and our particular problems.

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