Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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328. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to any plans by the UK Government to install border controls on the Border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8183/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Government has been clear and consistent on our four headline priorities for protecting Ireland’s interests in the upcoming EU-UK negotiations. These are minimising impact on trade and the economy, protecting the peace process and Northern Ireland, maintaining the Common Travel Area and influencing the future of the European Union.

The Government welcomed the further clarity provided by Prime Minister May in her address of 17 January. Prime Minister May has made clear that she wishes to secure the closest possible future economic relationship for Britain with the EU, a goal that Ireland shares. In her speech, Prime Minister May highlighted the specific and historic relationship between Britain and Ireland. In this context, she made clear that her priorities include maintaining the Common Travel Area and avoiding a return to a hard border with Northern Ireland, both of which are welcome.

I am not aware of the kind of plans referred to by the Deputy. When the negotiations start, we, together with our EU partners, will face the UK across the negotiating table and will strive for a deal that everyone can accept but more importantly that protects Ireland’s fundamental interests, including maintaining the open border on this island. However, the Government is under no illusions about the hard work that will be needed to deliver this.

The Taoiseach discussed with Prime Minister May the serious implications of Brexit for Northern Ireland and the imperative of retaining the open border on the island of Ireland, at their meeting in Dublin on 30 January. There will be a need for the British Government to reflect the unique challenges Brexit poses for Northern Ireland in the position they adopt in the negotiations with the EU27. I reinforced this message in my meeting with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire in our meeting on 14 February.

As part of our preparations for the negotiations, I have been in contact with all of my EU counterparts in order to sensitise them to the need for specific arrangements which protect the key gains of the peace process on this island – a process to which the EU has already made a key contribution.

From my engagement with all of my EU counterparts, as well as with the EU Institutions, most notably my recent discussions with Michel Barnier, Chair of the European Commission Taskforce on Brexit, and Guy Verhofstadt, Brexit negotiator for the European Parliament, there is deep appreciation of the EU’s role and contribution in support of the peace process and a wish to continue that support, regardless of the challenges and impacts of Brexit.

The Government will continue to engage with all of our EU partners to highlight the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland, and the consequences for North-South cooperation on the island as a whole, which must be factored into the UK’s exit from the EU and any new EU-UK relationship.