Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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163. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has met the First Minister, Ms Arlene Foster, and the Deputy First Minister, Mr. Martin Mc Guinness, since the result of the referendum on a British exit from the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20257/16]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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164. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has met British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers, since the result of the referendum on a British exit from the European Union; if they have discussed matters that concern the island of Ireland, such as implications for trade and Border controls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20258/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together.

I have been actively engaged with both the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government since the results of the recent UK-EU referendum became known. On the Friday when the result was announced I spoke with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the First and deputy First Ministers and the leaders of the Northern Irish political parties.

Last Wednesday, the Secretary of State and I convened the Quarterly Review Meeting of the Fresh Start and Stormont House Agreements, which was attended by the First and deputy First Ministers and the Northern Ireland Justice Minister and at which the referendum result was discussed. In addition to the Review Meeting, I held a separate bilateral meeting with Secretary of State Villiers during which we discussed the issue, as I did in meetings with the SDLP leader and the leader of the Alliance Party.

The referendum outcome was also on the agenda at Monday’s NSMC Plenary hosted by the Taoiseach at Dublin Castle. My Cabinet colleagues and I participated together with the Ministers of the Northern Ireland Executive led by the First and deputy First Ministers.

During the NSMC Plenary, there was a detailed discussion on the potential impact of the UK referendum result to leave the EU. At the meeting, the NSMC agreed on ten specific areas where there would be joint planning and engagement. Furthermore, the economy and trade; Northern Ireland and British Irish relations; the Common Travel Area; and the EU were highlighted as the four priority areas where implications arise as result of the referendum vote.

The NSMC Plenary followed on from last week’s Quarterly Review Meeting of the Fresh Start and Stormont House Agreements and my separate bilateral meeting with Secretary of State Villiers. Naturally the outcome of the UK referendum on the EU was a key element of these meetings and I took the opportunity to assure all those present of the priority the Government attaches to the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland in the aftermath of the referendum.

I emphasised the necessity and importance of working together in the best interests of the people on this island. I reiterated the Government’s commitment to work in support of stability, reconciliation and prosperity in Northern Ireland. In this regard the Government will use its influence with our EU partners to seek to persuade them of the need for specific arrangements which protect the key gains of the peace process on this island – a process to which the EU has already made a key contribution. In addition I outlined that the Common Travel Area and cross-border EU funding, are key priorities for the Government in the period ahead.

I am very conscious of the deep concerns and anxiety that have arisen for many people across the community in Northern Ireland about the referendum outcome. The fact that the majority within Northern Ireland who voted to remain now face their preference being set aside as a result of the overall result across the UK raises profound issues.

In this regard, in my bilateral meeting with Secretary of State Villiers we agreed that the Good Friday Agreement remains the foundation for the two Governments’ approach to Northern Ireland. The EU referendum result does not in any way diminish the centrality of the Good Friday Agreement or the requirement of both the British and Irish Governments to uphold it. As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday and succeeding Agreements, the Irish Government is determined that its institutions, values and principles – including the right to be British or Irish or both - will be fully protected.

Furthermore, I noted that any future arrangements will not exclusively be determined by the wishes of the Irish Government, the British Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. They will also be influenced by the wider negotiations between the UK and the EU of 27 remaining Member States. One of the challenges, therefore, will be for Ireland to use its influence with our EU partners to persuade them of the need for specific arrangements which protect the key gains of the peace process on this island.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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165. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has completed an assessment of the implications for the North-South bodies since the result of the referendum on a British exit from the European Union, particularly on those bodies that receive European Union funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20259/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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At the Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) which was held in Dublin Castle on Monday 4 July 2016, Government and Northern Ireland Executive Ministers had a detailed discussion on the potential impact of the UK Referendum vote to leave the EU. The Council agreed that the implications of the referendum decision on North South cooperation should be explored in detail for all sectors. In order to optimise joint planning and engagement on key issues arising following the UK referendum result, the NSMC agreed to work together to ensure that Northern Ireland’s interests are protected and advanced and the benefits of North/South co-operation are fully recognised in any new arrangements which emerge as regards the United Kingdom’s future relationship with the European Union.

The Council agreed that a full audit will be undertaken in all NSMC sectors, which include the six North South Bodies and Tourism Ireland Ltd., to identify the possible impacts, risks, opportunities and contingencies arising in the phases preceding and following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. It was also agreed that Ministers North and South at their forthcoming NSMC Sectoral meetings will consider the strategic and cross-cutting issues arising and that final priorities will be agreed by the next NSMC Plenary in November for both pre-negotiation and negotiation phases.

All of the North South Bodies are testament to the benefit of working together for mutual benefit, and in the light of the Referendum result it will be important that the Northern Ireland Executive and the Government continue to fully support the work of the Bodies.

The North South Bodies are playing a continuing and central role in our economic recovery, with Tourism Ireland driving record tourism numbers to this island and InterTradeIreland building vital exporting capacity among our small and medium enterprises, the mainstay of the all-island economy. Another North South Body, the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), is the Managing Authority for various EU Programmes.

At the NSMC Plenary meeting the Council re-iterated the joint commitment of the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to the successful implementation of the EU’s PEACE and INTERREG programmes, and agreed that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Northern Ireland Finance Minister will consider the issue of securing the ERDF funding for PEACE and INTERREG, including through engagement with the European Commission.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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166. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff dedicated to managing Ireland's response to the decision of the United Kingdom to exit the European Union; the structure of this team; how it will work with teams in other Departments; who has overall responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20303/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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From the moment the British Prime Minister David Cameron first proposed a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU in 2013, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has worked closely with the Department of the Taoiseach on this important strategic issue for Ireland. Work is underway to ensure that capabilities and resources are put in place to manage the complex process of a UK exit from the EU.

I am happy to set out the resources which are in place in my Department as of today. Within my Department, lead responsibility for the UK-EU relationship lies with Ireland, UK and Americas (IUKA) Division, within which there is a dedicated British-Irish Relations Unit currently staffed by five officers. This Unit works very closely with colleagues in the wider IUKA Division, especially those colleagues focused on Northern Ireland. Supporting and sustaining peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland is a key priority for my Department and protecting the interests of Northern Ireland will be a crucial element of our approach to any negotiations regarding the UK’s departure from the EU.

The Department also has a Policy Planning Unit which was established in 2014 and has provided policy analysis to the IUKA Division. In addition, there is also an intra-Departmental contact group on the UK-EU relationship, comprising senior officials across all of our relevant units.

In terms of Irish offices abroad focused on the UK-EU relationship, I would list in particular the Embassy of Ireland in London, the Consulate General of Ireland in Edinburgh, our offices in Belfast and Armagh, and the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels. Missions across the EU and further afield are all working on this issue, especially as the expected UK exit process approaches.

I would also add that seven diplomatic officers of the Department are seconded to the European Union Division in the Department of the Taoiseach, while two diplomatic officers are seconded to the International and EU Relations Division of the Department of Finance.