Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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267. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent report by the House of Lords EU committee on Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40923/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The UK House of Lords EU Committee’s report on “Brexit: UK-Irish relations” is a welcome contribution to the debate. It highlights the significance of the issues the UK’s exit raises and the need for these to be addressed comprehensively and creatively. The report forms part of a body of parliamentary work being carried out both in Westminster and here in the Oireachtas, helping to inform administrations within Ireland and Britain as well as EU governments and institutions.

The Government contributed to the deliberations of this Committee through the appearance of the Ambassador of Ireland before them in London, while the report also benefitted from valuable contributions by senior figures from political, economic and social life across the island of Ireland.

In the negotiations relating to Brexit, this Government will work to ensure that the best possible outcomes will be achieved for our citizens, for the economy, for Northern Ireland and for the Common Travel Area. The Irish Government takes every opportunity to outline these priority issues at all of our meetings with EU counterparts – at both official and political level.

While exit negotiations will be between the UK on one side and the 27 EU Member States, including Ireland, on the other, it is an ongoing priority for this Government to also maintain and build on the strength of our bilateral relations with the UK Government. We have strong established frameworks to do this through the institutions of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which include the British Irish Council.