Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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84. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the details of the most recent engagement with his counterparts in each of the 27 member states of the EU on the issue of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union; the location where the engagement took place; the counterparts with whom he engaged on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5739/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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As the Deputy is aware one of the main avenues available for me to meet my European counterparts is through the EU Councils and Informal Councils, of which I have attended five since the Brexit vote. I ensure that I hold a number of discussions on the margins of these meetings with my European counterparts to stress the unique challenges faced by Ireland in the wake of the Brexit vote.

At the most recent Energy Council in December I held bilateral discussions with the representatives of Malta, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, and Cyprus on Brexit and the potential impacts on Ireland. I also had a bilateral with Commissioner Canete on the same topic.

At the upcoming Energy and Environment Councils, which are scheduled to take place at the end of February, I shall continue this engagement.

Other meetings where I have discussed Brexit and its impact on Ireland include the North South Ministerial Council, meetings of the OECD, and United Nations meetings. I held discussions with Simon Hamilton, Minister for the Economy in the Northern Ireland Executive, on the margins of the most recent North South Ministerial Council. I have also met with Andrus Ansip, Vice President of the European Commission, in September in Government Buildings in Dublin.

This activity is reinforced by extensive engagement at diplomatic and official level.  The Government is acutely aware of the potential risks and challenges for the Irish economy and will remain fully engaged on this aspect as the negotiations proceed.  An important part of our preparations for the Brexit negotiations is ensuring that our particular concerns are heard and understood across Europe, and engagement with our EU partners and with the EU institutions is therefore critical.

Ireland will be part of the EU 27 team and looks forward to working with our fellow Member States in delivering the best possible result for Ireland and for the EU.

In line with the agreement at EU level, there have been and will be no negotiations with the UK until Article 50 has been triggered.