Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----to the companies to which he referred. That Single Market and the support that those companies have received from Irish agencies has been crucial in allowing companies to grow and to the significant development that has taken place in the country over the past 40 to 50 years.

The Deputy makes the point in relation to the Border. I repeat the point I made to him a moment ago. That Border, the risks of the Border, the needs of the common travel area and freedom of movement of people have been recognised in the negotiation mandates that have issued from the European Union. In particular, Mr. Michel Barnier, who will be the lead negotiator on behalf of the Commission and the broader European Union, has stated that he wants these issues in relation to Ireland dealt with in the first module of the negotiations that will be taking.

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That is happening because of the work of the Irish Government and our ambassadors. Alongside this, the Minister of State, Deputy Murphy, is leading Government efforts to attract new foreign direct investment to Ireland in sectors such as financial services and put in a bid to host important European agencies here in Ireland, as indeed is the Minister, Deputy Harris.

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