Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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62. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the effect Brexit will have on borders, with particular reference to the common travel area and trade with Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30285/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Throughout all our discussions with our UK and EU counterparts, the Irish Government has been clear that we are committed to maintaining the open and effectively invisible border and protecting the Common Travel Area (CTA). The CTA is an important feature of the close relationship between Ireland and the UK with long-established benefits for trade and tourism between our two countries. It operates across a range of areas including allowing for free movement between Ireland and the UK, voting rights and access to social welfare.

The eventual departure of the UK from the EU means that the only land border between the EU and the UK will be on the island of Ireland. It will be geographically isolated from the rest of the EU and, as it will be outside the Schengen arrangements, the integrity of the border controls of the Schengen area will not be affected in any way. Furthermore it will be part of a pre-existing British-Irish arrangement that has long been recognised, the CTA. However, the CTA has only ever operated where both Ireland and the UK were either outside of the EU, or within it.

The CTA is an arrangement that is valued on both islands and both Governments will work hard to preserve its benefits. It will be a key issue for Ireland in the context of negotiating new terms and conditions for the EU's relationship with the UK. We will prioritise this matter in the context of a new relationship between the EU and the UK, and in bilateral discussions with the British Government. So whilst it cannot be stated with certainty at this stage that no immigration controls at borders will be introduced, we would hope that arrangements can remain as close to the current regime as is possible.

Regarding trade, we are all acutely conscious of the importance of the UK market to Irish exporters and every effort is being made to protect existing trade and to continue to grow it.

In my role as Minister for Trade, I am also intensifying our efforts on other markets, near and far. I believe we have the capacity for much greater market penetration in other EU member states and I am focused on that. But we are also looking beyond Europe's borders. Indeed, at a meeting of the Export Trade Council last week there was a strong focus on markets in Asia in particular. In September I attended the UN General Assembly where I had a series of bilateral meetings with countries from the Americas, Asia and the Antipodes. I gave the strong message that Ireland will remain at the heart of Europe; we will continue to be an English speaking gateway to a market of 500 million people; and we will continue to offer a business friendly environment and a talented and adaptable workforce.