Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Chancellor Merkel raised a number of questions specifically about the Border situation, given that we do not yet know the trading relationships that will apply between the UK and the EU and between ourselves and the UK. In so far as clarity was possible, we were very clear that the political principle here is not to return to the Border of the past.

The priorities for Ireland were mentioned specifically in the letter from the British Prime Minister triggering Article 50. They were also mentioned specifically in the document produced by the European Parliament and in the draft guidelines circulated by the European Council. I do not know of anybody who has claimed that this was some kind of coup. I would make the point that very dedicated public officials at COREPER and official levels have worked very assiduously and hard in Belfast, London, Brussels and here to bring about a realisation of the particular and special circumstances and the unique case of this country. Deputy Adams is well aware that the situation in so far as Northern Ireland is concerned is that this Republic voted in a referendum to remove Articles 2 and 3 from the Irish Constitution and in support of the Good Friday Agreement, which makes clear that the Six Counties are part of the United Kingdom until or unless the people of Northern Ireland decide to do something about that. In that respect, we have always discussed the question of the special status, the particular circumstances and the unique situation that applies in Northern Ireland. What is now written into the European Council's bedrock for negotiations is that if at some time in the future the people of Northern Ireland decide to do that, they will not have to apply to re-join the European Union.

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