Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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62. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has identified Ireland's red line issues in the EU-UK Article 50 negotiations. [12049/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The triggering of Article 50 on 29 March represented the formal commencement of a process for which Ireland has been preparing intensively and extensively over the last nine months. Indeed, our analysis and contingency planning have been under way ever since late 2014. This has included comprehensive analysis involving all Government Departments of the implications of the UK’s decision to leave the EU on a range of sectors and policy areas. There has also been extensive consultation, including through the all-island Civic Dialogue, and with a range of stakeholders. This work has been led by the Cabinet Committee on Brexit, chaired by the Taoiseach and involving all relevant Ministers, including myself.

Arising from this extensive work, which continues, four headline challenges have been identified and prioritised by the Government as major political issues that will need to be addressed in the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and with regard to the EU-UK future relationship. These are: to protect our economic interests and minimise the impact on our economy and trade; to protect the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Good Friday Agreement, including the need to maintain the invisible border on the island of Ireland; to maintain the Common Travel Area with the UK; and to secure Ireland’s future in a strong European Union.

I do not think it is helpful in a negotiation such as this to talk of red lines. That said, it is vital that all efforts are made to avoid anything which might undermine stability in Northern Ireland, and relations between North and South. This is an objective that is not only in the interests of Ireland and the UK, but of the EU as a whole. It is the Government’s priority to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement is fully respected and that the overall integrity of settlement is not disturbed. The open border that exists between North and South has been one of the central achievements of the peace process. We are pleased that the EU’s draft negotiating guidelines, as circulated by President Tusk on 31 March and to be considered by the European Council on 29 April, make reference to the importance of protecting the peace process in Northern Ireland and to avoiding a “hard border” on the island of Ireland.

The Common Travel Area is also an important feature of the close relationship between Ireland and the UK with long-established benefits for our people and well-being of our two countries. It is an arrangement that is valued on both islands and continuation of this arrangement is a stated objective of both the Irish and the UK Governments. I therefore welcome both Prime Minister May’s reaffirmation in the Article 50 notification letter of the UK’s intention to maintain the Common Travel Area after the UK withdraws from the EU, and the recognition in the draft European Council guidelines of existing bilateral agreements and arrangements between Ireland and the UK.

Throughout the Article 50 negotiations and the subsequent negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and the UK, we will be working hard to ensure that key sectors of the economy, as well as our overall trading relationship with the UK, are protected to the greatest extent possible. For this reason, we have, within the context of the Article 50 negotiations, argued strongly for transitional arrangements to ensure certainty and continuity for our people and businesses in the period between the finalisation of the withdrawal agreement and the conclusion of an agreement on the future relationship between the EU and the UK. I am therefore satisfied with the phased approach to negotiations that has been set out in the draft European Council guidelines. This seeks to ensure an orderly withdrawal of the UK and includes the possibility of a transitional arrangement with the objective of providing certainty and minimising economic disruption.

Before discussions on the future relationship begin, following the achievement of sufficient progress in the Article 50 negotiations proper, the European Council will adopt additional guidelines on the Union’s approach. Ireland will be supporting the closest possible partnership between the Union and the UK, taking account of the need for a level playing field and the fact that the UK outside the Union will not have the same full set of rights and responsibilities as before.

The strong acknowledgement of Ireland’s unique circumstances in the draft EU negotiating guidelines, the UK Government’s letter of notification and the resolution on the Brexit negotiations that was adopted by the European Parliament on 5 April is clear evidence that the extensive political, diplomatic and official campaign of recent months has been effective in ensuring understanding and recognition of our unique circumstances and specific issues. It reinforces our strong view that these will be resolved satisfactorily.

The Government will produce a position paper on the Article 50 negotiations in advance of the meeting of the European Council on 29 April. This will provide more detail on the Government’s approach to the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, as governed by Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. This paper will build on the four priorities and will make clear that Ireland is ready for these negotiations in which the Government will be focused on getting the best deal for Ireland.