Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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190. To ask the Taoiseach his plans to develop a strategic position for Ireland in the event of the United Kingdom withdrawing from the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13083/15]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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A key strategic objective for the Government is the UK's continued membership of the European Union. I have made this very clear on a number of occasions. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan T.D., and the Minister of State for European Affairs and Data Protection, Dara Murphy T.D., have also spoken clearly on this issue.

The reasons why the UK's presence in the EU is so important to Ireland are well-documented. British membership is central to the health of our economy and to the broader British-Irish relationship. And the people of Northern Ireland benefit, on a variety of levels, from our joint membership of the Union.

It is also the Government's firm view that the EU is better and stronger as a whole with Britain as a full and committed EU member.

That is why our focus remains on keeping the UK in the European Union, rather than planning for their departure. A key part of this approach is working closely with the UK, and other Member States, on EU policy issues on which we have similar views. The British Government and other British political parties have made it clear that the achievement of common aims in regard to EU policy – and economic policy in particular – will help buttress the case in Britain for its continued membership of the EU.

We recognise that the UK has some legitimate concerns about how the EU functions and its future direction. We will therefore be open and sympathetic to considering any British proposals, if and when they are presented, on how we can improve the functioning of the EU. At the same time – as we have said before – we will not support anything that would weaken the Union or our position within it.

While the Government is determined to do its utmost to keep the UK in the EU, we recognise that we must be prepared for any scenario. We are therefore monitoring and assessing developments in the EU-UK relationship very carefully.

My Department is working closely with other Departments, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in this regard. The Department of Finance is also playing an important role and has recently commissioned a report to improve our understanding of the macro-economic links between the UK and Ireland in the context of our EU membership.

While our priority remains helping to secure the UK's place in the EU, we will continue to take a vigilant and comprehensive approach, across Government, to ensure that Ireland's interests are best protected in the case of a British departure from the EU.