Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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30. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has examined the policy implications for Ireland of a "Yes" vote in the Scottish independence referendum; if he will support Scotland's application for membership of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15253/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The people of Scotland will vote in a referendum on 18 September 2014 on the question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?". That question is one which the people of Scotland, and they alone, should decide. I do not believe it would be appropriate for the Government to comment, therefore, on issues which at this stage are hypothetical, especially where comment might be perceived as an intervention in the debate.

A decision in favour of independence would of course have both political and policy implications for Ireland, reshaping our relations with Scotland as well as relations within the United Kingdom and the European Union. Our Embassy in London and Consulate General in Edinburgh are monitoring the debate very closely and my Department is assessing the issues arising and the policy implications for Ireland on an ongoing basis.