Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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244. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government received any request to participate or intervene as an interested party in the proceedings before the Belfast High Court challenging Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32750/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Government received pre-action correspondence notifying of the two sets of proceedings which were heard concurrently at the Belfast High Court in relation to the UK-EU referendum. In accordance with the relevant Northern Ireland practice directions, such correspondence may be sent to those whom the applicant considers to have an interest in the proceedings.

I note that a judgment on both applications was given by the Belfast High Court on 28 October. This court decision could be the subject of further proceedings and is therefore not something that I propose to comment further on.

The impact on Northern Ireland and the peace process is one of the Government’s four key priorities in dealing with the prospective exit of the UK from the European Union.

As we have made clear, as part of the process of the UK’s exit from the European Union, the Government will be working for special arrangements which take account of Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances. Our priority is to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement and the overall balance of the settlement is not in any way disturbed by the UK’s exit from the European Union and of course to maintain the open, and effectively invisible, border on the island.

The Government is intensively engaged with our EU partners to address the UK’s prospective EU exit. Our preparations over the coming weeks include closer political and official engagement with Northern Ireland and the British Government and a broadening dialogue with civic society.

In this regard, an all-island Civic Dialogue on Brexit will commence, with the initial meeting being hosted by the Taoiseach and myself, today 2 November, in Dublin. A broad range of civic society groups, trade unions, business groups and non-governmental organisations are participating as well as representatives of political parties on the island.