Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not agree with all of the comment but they are very much fair questions. First, we are focusing on the negotiations themselves, as we did before Christmas, to make sure an Irish perspective is understood and incorporated into the various different things happening.

Next Monday, in the General Affairs Council, there will be a proposal in relation to transition arrangements. We want to make sure that the full EU acquis applies for the full transition period. In Britain it is referred to as an implementation period but it is the same thing. In particularly sensitive areas, like fishing for example, we want to ensure that the full EU acquisapplies in terms of protecting our interests but also protecting EU interests. A transition period is a period that allows both British and EU interests to respond to, prepare for and finalise the preparations for new realities in terms of the future relationship. That is very current.

In relation to the withdrawal agreement, I think we can expect a draft withdrawal agreement coming from the EU side by the middle of February. Again, a key thing for Ireland is that all of the commitments we had in writing in December are reinforced in that withdrawal agreement so that we can have, as it has been described in EU language, no backsliding from previous commitments. That is a real focus for our negotiating team. Moving towards the future relationship itself, Britain has choices to make in terms of the signals that it wants to give to the EU negotiating team in respect of what they want to negotiate. Do they want a classic free trade agreement? Do they want a Norway-style arrangement with some flexibilities? Do they want to be part of some customs union partnership, to use British language, in the future or do they not?

These signals and these decisions in regard to future direction for Britain will determine how the EU negotiating team can respond to try to facilitate that. I will be in London shortly to advocate for the kind of things-----

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