Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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11. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals he has to discuss Britain's continued membership of the European Union with the British Foreign Secretary and with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in view of the British Government's proposal to hold a referendum on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19498/15]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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It is just over two weeks since the British general election. It appears the referendum in regard to the continued British membership of the European Union could be held in 2016 and the latest reports from Westminster suggest the parliamentary Bill which will pave the way for the vote will be published next week. We are all conscious that each sovereign country makes its own decisions. At the same time, however, we have a major selfish and strategic interest in Britain continuing its membership of the EU. There is over €1 billion of bilateral trade per week between the two countries and our two economies are very strongly linked. Therefore, there is an onus on us to get a clear message to the British Government about the value and strength of its continued membership of the EU, which will also be beneficial to our country.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The debate in the United Kingdom regarding its relationship with the European Unionis followed extremely closely by the Government. That focus will now only intensify following the recent general election in Britain and Prime Minister Cameron’s commitment to holding a referendum on the country’s EU membership by 2017. My Government colleagues and I have been clear in voicing our view that joint British-Irish membership has been very beneficial to our country and our relationship with the UK. The important role the EU has played in the context of Northern Ireland should also not be forgotten, as the Taoiseach emphasised recently in a speech in Belfast. The Taoiseach also restated our view when he spoke to Prime Minister Cameron by phone following the re-election of the Conservative Government in recent weeks.

Our unique relationship with the UK, in economic, social, cultural and historical terms, means we have a deep interest in the outcome of this debate about that country’s future in Europe. We also value the contribution the UK has made to the EU during the four decades we have been members together. We share a similar approach in many key policy areas. Given the importance we attach to their ongoing membership, a key priority will be ensuring that our UK partners remain fully aware of the potential consequences for Ireland of any fundamental change in the nature of their membership of the EU.

I have addressed many of these points directly with the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Philip Hammond, including yesterday, Monday, when we spoke at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels. I also wrote to him following his recent re-appointment and will remain in close contact with him in the time ahead. I will also maintain close contact with the Secretary of State, Ms Theresa Villiers, with whom I will be meeting this evening in Dublin, on a range of issues pertaining to Northern Ireland and our shared interests.

A debate in the UK on this important issue may be seen as an opportunity to highlight the many benefits of EU membership. We will work closely in the coming period with both our British and EU partners with the objective of ensuring continued UK membership of the EU.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. Will he take the opportunity this evening, in his meeting with the Secretary of State, to outline very clearly to her that a very strong pro-European Union view is held throughout Northern Ireland? In fact, as the Minister mentioned in his reply, all of us recognise the very valuable contribution the EU has made to the political advances and the major progress in Northern Ireland over the past 17 or 18 years.

If Britain were to leave the Single Market, it would be catastrophic from our point of view. I represent the constituency of Cavan-Monaghan which has a very long land border with Northern Ireland. I grew up along the Border, with its customs posts and permanent vehicle checkpoints.

I do not want to see either in situalong the Border ever again. I sincerely hope the Minister will continue to send a strong message to the British Government that membership of the EU, with access to 500 million people in a Single Market and the very valuable trade on a bilateral basis throughout the EU, is of critical importance to all the people on this island. It is important to reflect there is a far stronger pro-EU sentiment in areas outside of England.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The matter of the EU-UK relationship is a strategic priority for the Government because we believe British membership of the EU is fundamental to Ireland's interests on a variety of levels, not least those evidenced by Deputy Smith. It now seems clear there will be a referendum, most likely in 2017, and that means our focus must intensity. The UK knows how much we value its presence in the EU and I and my Government colleagues have made that clear on a number of occasions, as did the Taoiseach, most recently in his conversation with Prime Minister Cameron.

Extensive has been underway across a range of Government Departments for some time to ensure a full understanding of the various issues at stake. My Department has been working alongside other Departments to identify issues and areas of foreign policy that could be affected by the potential withdrawal of the UK from the EU. Our main objective remains helping to keep the UK in the EU, rather than mitigating the effects of a potential withdrawal.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Would the Minister agree the lacuna or lack of clarity that will exist for some time will probably be detrimental to attracting inward investment to Northern Ireland? Such investment benefits the entire island. I hope a clear message can be sent, namely, that trade and investment are very important from the point of view of Britain's continued membership of the EU, from which we also benefit. Does the Minister have any inkling of what the British want to renegotiate regarding its terms of membership of the EU?

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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It seems that there are three issues upon which this debate will pivot. The first is the area the British Government describes as over-regulation. The second is the matter of immigration, workers rights and labour law. The third is the role of national parliaments. No formal plans have been presented and, therefore, we are not yet in a position to outline the precise approach we will take. The UK, as a key member of the EU over the past 40 years, continues to make an important contribution to the ongoing development of the Union. As our closest neighbour and as a partner, we share many similarities with it in terms of our economic model and legal system. We values its perspective on how we can continue to improve the effectiveness of the Union.

I wish to assure the House that over the next few months and as the debate intensifies, one will see a very strong and close relationship across a range of Government Departments, led by the Taoiseach in his relationship with Prime Minister Cameron. I understand they are arranging to meet very shortly, perhaps over the coming weeks. I have already met Foreign Secretary Hammond and we also agreed to meet in London in June. I wish to assure the House that when this debate intensifies, the Government will be most vociferous in ensuring that the British Government is clear on our position. There may be areas in which we will be in a position to assist it.