Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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15. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the Swiss referendum result on limiting the free movement of citizens from the EU; the position Ireland will adopt at European Council level and proposals at EU level in response to the Swiss decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7999/14]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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42. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the recent Swiss referendum on immigration; that it was passed and new quotas will be placed on immigration flows; his views on the effect it will have on Switzerland’s relationship with the EU; and if he discussed it with his EU counterparts. [8113/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 42 together.

In a referendum held on 9 February, Swiss citizens voted by a very narrow margin to accept a proposal to introduce quotas and restrictions on migrants, the vast majority of whom are EU nationals.

The limits will apply to all work and residency permits issued to foreign nationals, including cross-border commuters and asylum seekers. The referendum text did not specify what levels the quotas on migrants should be set at. These details will be set down in draft legislation which the Swiss Federal Council (Government) is required to bring forward to give effect to the new constitutional provisions on immigration. The Federal Council has said that it intends to present a draft law to the Swiss Parliament by the end of this year.

The referendum outcome is a worrying development, with far reaching implications for EU- Switzerland relations, not least because any new Swiss legislation introducing quotas on immigration by EU citizens would be incompatible with the existing EU-Switzerland Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons which has been in place since 2002. The free movement of people is a cornerstone of the construction of the European Union. It is integral to many of the 100 plus bilateral agreements between the EU and Switzerland and is a key basis on which Switzerland is able to access the EU single market.

At a meeting of the General Affairs Council in Brussels last week, Ireland echoed the views of many Member States who underlined the centrality of the free movement of persons to the operation of the EU single market. Ministers also made it clear that the onus was firmly on Switzerland to explain how it proposes to address the serious situation that has now arisen.

The Federal Council has acknowledged that it has a responsibility to clarify its intentions regarding Switzerland’s existing agreements with the EU and to keep the EU fully informed of its future plans. To this end, a meeting has been arranged with senior EU officials in Brussels later this month to begin exploratory talks on the way forward.