Written answers

Wednesday, 22 February 2017

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Brexit Issues

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

60. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which Ireland's campaign continues to position it in the most advantageous situation possible post-Brexit in the context of having unimpeded access to existing markets including the UK, incorporating the concept of an all-Ireland market and the maintenance of the traditional common travel area thereby eliminating a customs border on the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8700/17]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In addition to protecting the Northern Ireland Peace Process and maintaining the Common Travel Area, minimising the impact on trade and the economy is a key priority for the Government in the forthcoming Brexit negotiations. From our perspective this means, as the Taoiseach stated in his keynote speech last week, that the best possible outcome in the negotiations is “the closest possible economic and trading relationship between the EU and the UK”. The Government’s preparations for these negotiations have been extensive. But it is also critical that our priorities are heard and understood across Europe and are reflected in the EU’s position for the forthcoming negotiations. To that end, an extensive programme of engagement with all other EU Governments and the EU institutions, including the European Commission’s Brexit Negotiations Task Force, is under way. To date, there has been over 120 engagements at either political or senior official level. The Taoiseach is in regular contact with EU leaders and recently travelled to Madrid and Warsaw for meetings with his Spanish and Polish counterparts. [He will travel to Brussels later this week, where he will have a meeting with the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker.]

For my own part, I spoke with each of my EU Foreign Minister counterparts in the period immediately following the referendum in the UK. I then undertook a second round of discussions with my EU colleagues which most recently has included bilateral meetings with the Italian, Spanish and Finnish Foreign Ministers. [Today, I welcomed the French Foreign Minister to Dublin for discussions, and plans are advancing for a visit by my Luxembourg counterpart at the beginning of March.] Engagement with the European Commission’s Task Force on Brexit and the Commission’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has also been a central part of the Government’s programme of engagement. The Government’s position on Brexit was outlined in meetings with Mr. Barnier in Dublin on 12 October. During a recent visit to Brussels (9 February) I met with Mr Barnier and had an excellent exchange with him about preparations for the negotiations phase. Engagement with the Commission’s Task Force at a technical level has been regular and is ongoing. There have been a number of exchanges on key aspects of the negotiations process and the Irish-specific aspects, including on the Common Travel Area and on border issues.

In the same vein, Minister of State Murphy also remains actively engaged; visiting Romania and Greece on 30 January to 1 February and this week he travels to Bratislava, Vienna and Budapest. In addition, meetings at senior official level took place with Latvia, Lithuania and Belgium most recently, and engagements are scheduled with France, Poland and Slovakia in the coming weeks.

Feedback to date from this comprehensive engagement has been very encouraging. There is as sound understanding among EU partners of our priority issues and a strong willingness and openness to work closely with Ireland on addressing them.

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. There will be a need for the British Government to also factor into their negotiating position with the European Union their objectives in relation to the maintenance of the open border and the protection of the gains of the peace process in Northern Ireland, as underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. The Taoiseach discussed this imperative with Prime Minister May at their meeting on 30 January and I reinforced this message in my meeting with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire in our meeting on 14 February.

The Government will continue to engage with all of our EU partners in pursuit of each of our four headline priorities, to protect the fundamental interests of our people and our economy.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.