Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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267. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to ensure ease of transit and continued transportation for those persons who live in the Border region, notably counties Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, and Donegal, and who commute to work in Northern Ireland, under the possibility of a hard Border with the Republic of Ireland following the UK referendum to leave the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3335/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The Government has been very clear on Ireland's priorities in the preparing for the UK exit from the EU. These are:

- economic and trading arrangements,

- the Northern Ireland Peace Process including border issues,

- the common travel area, and

- the future of the European Union.

In her speech last week, Prime Minister May highlighted the closeness of the relationship between Britain and Ireland and indicated that her priorities include maintaining the common travel area and avoiding a return to a hard border with Northern Ireland. The challenge is to see how this can be achieved.

My Department has and will continue to undertake extensive consultations with sectorial stakeholders on the implications of the UK exit and the actions that both industry and the Government need to take to mitigate these impacts.  Minister of State O'Dovovan and I hosted All-Island Sectorial Dialogues for Transport and Tourism  in Dundalk on Monday last in which some 200 interested parties from both sides of the border participated.  The importance of the freedom of movement across the border was a major issue for all involved and re-inforced the priority that the Government is giving to this matter. 

The Government  has fully engaged with our EU partners, including the Barnier negotiation team, on our priorities.  Our negotiation positions have been prepared while risks and mitigation measures are being identified.