Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The EU and the Commission are not making any preparations for the Border because we have a legally binding international treaty in place. We expect the UK to fulfil its obligations. We spent two and a half, if not three, years negotiating an agreement which ensures that we do not have to reintroduce any infrastructure at the Border. This means we can protect the Good Friday Agreement and the progress we have made in co-operation North and South and between Ireland and the UK in protecting the Single Market. It is clear that it is now about implementing the withdrawal agreement. The preparation that the EU is talking about is for a no trade deal outcome. That is what we are focused on. Now is the time for the UK to bring forward further detail. I understand that tomorrow's meeting is only an hour long and the discussion will not only cover the Northern Ireland protocol, but also citizens' rights. We will have to wait and see how much can be dealt with tomorrow but we still need them to do a great deal of work.

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