Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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211. To ask the Minister for Finance the discussions the he has had with his European ministerial counterparts regarding Brexit and the impact of this on the economies of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the wider EU economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27322/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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While it is not the result that we hoped for, the Government fully accepts and respects the outcome of the democratic process in the UK. The key issues for Ireland associated with such an outcome have been articulated on numerous occasions by me and other members of the Government and relate to the close economic relationship with the UK, Northern Ireland, the Common Travel Area and the EU itself.

Since the referendum outcome, I have met with my EU counterparts at the July Ecofin meeting, at the July Eurogroup and at the informal meetings of the ECOFIN and Eurogroup in Bratislava in September. In line with the agreement at EU level that there will be no negotiations until the UK has triggered Article 50, the matter was not discussed at these meetings. En marge of these meetings however, while fully respecting the principle of no negotiations, I have taken the opportunity in exchanges with partners (as have other Government Ministers) to underline Ireland's unique relationship with the UK and our specific concerns in relation to the potential economic and political impact on North-South relations, the Common Travel Area and the interconnectedness of our trade.

I met with the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer in London on 22 September 2016 and I set out key issues for Ireland arising from the UK referendum.