Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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337. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his meeting with Britain's Minister for Exiting the EU, David Davies. [28717/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Along with the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald T.D. and the Minister of State for European Affairs Dara Murphy T.D., I met the UK Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, David Davis MP, and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, Robin Walker MP, at Iveagh House on 8 September. We discussed the challenges posed by the UK electorate's decision to leave the EU. During our discussions the Tánaiste, Minister Murphy and I emphasised Ireland's key concerns in relation to Northern Ireland, border and citizenship issues; the Common Travel area; and the importance of economic trade and people-to-people relations, while the UK Ministers set out the current state of play with regard to their preparations for an EU exit process.

In advance of our meeting, Secretary of State Davis, together with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire, had made some initial contacts with the Northern Ireland Executive and other stakeholders in Belfast. We discussed the outcomes of those contacts and I urged prioritisation of the vitally important Northern Ireland dimension in the overall Brexit process, with particular focus on the border but also more widely on sustaining the peace and prosperity which have been built up so painstakingly over recent decades.

We had a useful discussion on the implications of and management arrangements for Brexit. This process will be difficult and complex and require thorough planning and regular dialogue. Secretary of State Davis expressed his determination that the excellent relations between Ireland and the UK would continue.