Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Maximum pressure is being applied at European Union level regarding Ireland's relationship with the United Kingdom. Our colleagues in the EU have an excellent understanding of Ireland's special relationship with the UK, particularly in the area of trade, but also in other areas, including those to which the Deputies refer. The Government wants clear progress to be made on the protocol before the June Council meeting. Neither the Government nor the EU task force wants to put this matter on the long finger.

Last week, at a meeting in Iveagh House, which I am sure Sinn Féin representatives attended, the Tánaiste updated members of the political parties on the Brexit talks. The EU has made clear that the backstop, as set out in the protocol, is a viable solution for avoiding a hard border. It will mean that there will be no physical infrastructure or associated checks and controls in place. It is vital to have this legal certainty in the withdrawal agreement to ensure that regardless of what happens in terms of the agreement between the European Union and the UK on their future relationship, there is no prospect of a return to a hard border The Tánaiste and Taoiseach will have an opportunity to take stock next week when Mr. Barnier visits County Louth. Tomorrow evening, Mr. Barnier will make his views clear to Mr. David Lidington, as he did last week when he met the deputy Prime Minister in Westminster. We are very much on top of the matter. The period leading up to June 2019 will be critical and sensitive negotiations are ongoing. Time is of the essence.

I thank all the political parties for their co-operation to date. We must take this journey together because Ireland's interests are in all our interests. As the UK exit date edges closer, we must make progress in the negotiations.

As I stated, the Irish issue has been identified as a key element of the negotiations. It is important that our EU partners understand where we are coming from. The issue of Ireland remains high on the agenda of all Ministers when they travel abroad. The next couple of months will be crucial in the context of ensuring that we get the protocol in place.

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