Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have already expressed a view to the House that there is no such thing as a favourable Brexit or a good Brexit. Even what has been described as a soft Brexit will result in challenges of a significant nature for us as an economy and a society, for our relationship with the UK and in terms of North-South relations on this island. I wish to point to the effective and wide-ranging contingency plans under way in recent years involving each Minister and Department. We will ensure that we are ready for the outcome no matter how difficult and challenging that outcome might be.

For the current round of negotiations and having regard to events at the European Council today, it is absolutely essential that the European Union and the United Kingdom continue to acknowledge Ireland's core issues and priorities. These are the matter of our citizens, North and South, as expressed through the common travel area and otherwise, the need to ensure there is a frictionless, invisible border on the island of Ireland and to ensure that the commitment by the UK agreed last December is included in writing in the withdrawal agreement.

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