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

-----on both British and Irish media. He has been making the case in a succinct and informed way but it is important to make a distinction in respect of the common travel area arrangements because it is accepted by the EU task force and both negotiating teams that this is a bilateral matter and that nothing in any withdrawal agreement or treaty will undermine the capacity for Britain and Ireland to maintain the common travel area on a bilateral basis. This is different from many of the other issues that have to be negotiated formally through the task force with the British Government. It is accepted by everybody that bilateral discussion, agreement and negotiation will be necessary to make sure we protect the benefits of the common travel area for British and Irish citizens and that is happening.

As for the bilateral relationship with the British Government, I will be in London again next week, where I will meet a series of British Ministers to discuss Brexit. We talk to our counterparts all the time about Brexit but that is different from formally negotiating with them, which we cannot do because Michel Barnier and his task force have the responsibility to negotiate on behalf of the EU as a whole, including Ireland.

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