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

I will get to the last question. Even though it has nothing to do with Brexit I will answer it because I want to be totally upfront about it. On the first issue, if this is about a race to the bottom and, as was raised earlier, if it is an attempt by the British Government to undercut EU standards to create competitive advantage while looking to get barrier-free access into the Single Market then there will not be an agreement. Let us be very clear on that. The EU understands exactly what is at stake here. They have to negotiate on the basis of the mandate they have to protect the integrity of the EU Single Market, to try to facilitate a trade deal that is tariff and quota free - if we can - but it has to involve strong level-playing field elements to reassure the EU that they have trade partners who are not trying to undercut them.

If that is the target outcome for the UK, we will not get a deal. That is the issue. We need to ensure, and I believe that the EU will ensure, that this will not be some kind of race to the bottom in an attempt to try to find a deal in a pressurised environment in the context of Covid.

On the Keelings issue, which has nothing to do with Brexit, my office was contacted by Keelings merely to ask whether the airports would close. That was the nature of the conversation and we confirmed they would not close. The advice was given to consult the Department of Health to ensure that the guidelines required in the context of essential workers being brought into the country were fully understood.

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