Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will underline the importance of this debate and what Deputies have said about future arrangements. I am anxious that we all work together on this issue. To Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly I say the Government will ensure all parties represented in the House are fully involved in the process. I acknowledge the attendance and contributions of many Members of the House in, for example, the national civic dialogue which will continue throughout the process of the negotiations. I am anxious to ensure the Government will be guided by the committees of this parliament and by parliament in plenary session. The Government remains committed to the protection of Ireland's interests, ensuring we will be fully prepared for the future at national level as a committed member of the European Union. This assembly has an important role to play in that regard. As the Taoiseach has set out, the outcome of Saturday's European Council meeting clearly demonstrates that the efforts so far are very much delivering for Ireland. It must continue. There is no question of anybody sitting back on the basis of what has been achieved. We are merely commencing what will be a very challenging period. We are undertaking a comprehensive programme of engagement with our EU partners. Over 400 engagements across government have taken place, either at political or senior official level. Through this engagement we have successfully ensured our unique concerns are reflected in the negotiating guidelines. Our concerns are to protect the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement, to seek flexible solutions aimed at ensuring the maintenance of the open border and to recognise existing bilateral arrangements and agreements between the United Kingdom and Ireland such as the common travel area mentioned by Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly.

I acknowledge the work of our officials, in particular those in the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department and our diplomats in Dublin, London, Brussels and every EU capital city. It is important to secure the recognition of the European Council that the Good Friday Agreement expressly provides for an agreed mechanism whereby a united Ireland may be brought about through democratic and peaceful means and in accordance with international law and that in such a case the entire territory of Ireland would thus be part of the European Union.

I acknowledge the willingness of our EU partners to take on board our concerns. The fact that they did so demonstrates that as a member of the European Union, Ireland is among friends. Friendships need to be nourished, built on and nurtured. Since the referendum in the United Kingdom I have been in frequent contact with all of my EU counterparts around the table. There have been almost 80 engagements in the past ten months. These engagements and exchanges have fostered a thorough understanding of our unique concerns among our EU partners. They have also been a listening exercise in raising my awareness of the challenges Brexit poses for them and identifying common ground. It is my intention and that of my many Government colleagues to continue this intensive programme of engagement to ensure our voice will continue to be heard clearly. The guidelines adopted by the European Council represent a strong and pragmatic political framework on which we base our approach to the negotiations. The next step at EU level will be to agree a more detailed set of negotiating directives which will provide a mandate for the European Commission to formally commence the negotiations with the United Kingdom.

The UK general election does not change, in any way, Ireland's commitment to pursuing the best possible outcome for the island of the entire Brexit process. We will continue to work tirelessly to that end. While the talks process in Belfast has had to be paused during the election campaign, we will continue to support and facilitate the parties in their efforts to reach agreement on the new Executive. It is important for Northern Ireland that the power sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement operate on a sustainable basis.

This is really important in the context of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. Given that the opening of the negotiations is only a matter of weeks away, the restoration of the power-sharing Executive in Northern Ireland is essential.

The outcome of Saturday's European Council meeting was an important milestone in what is a monumental challenge. It marks the beginning rather than the end of what will be a lengthy, complex and challenging process. It is a positive beginning and a good foundation on which the United Kingdom and the European Union can work to ensure an orderly exit and build towards a positive and close relationship into the future. This is in the interests of Ireland, the United Kingdm and the entire European Union.

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