Written answers

Tuesday, 30 May 2017

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Brexit Issues

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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347. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he expects to be in a position to defend the cause of Ireland and Northern Ireland in the Brexit discussions having particular regard to ensuring that the island of Ireland is not disadvantaged by Britain's withdrawal from the EU; if it is recognised that the single market and customs union are necessary vehicles to ensure unimpeded trade with the EU and access to UK markets via the European Union with specific reciprocal arrangements for the UK to and through the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25987/17]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Government has been clear since the outset that its key priorities for the Brexit negotiations included minimising the impact on trade and the economy and protecting the Peace Process and the Good Friday Agreement. Economic prosperity is an integral part of deepening peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. The achievements of peace and the operation of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement have greatly facilitated progress in developing an all-island economy.

A central goal of the extensive engagement that I and my Government colleagues have undertaken in the eleven months since the referendum in the UK has been to ensure Ireland’s unique concerns in relation to Brexit are understood by our EU partners and to seek explicit recognition of these issues and priorities in the EU’s position for the withdrawal negotiations. The Government has laid particular emphasis on the political imperative of achieving flexible and imaginative solutions in relation to the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland, in particular with a view to avoiding a hard border. In so doing, we have been equally clear that we will only pursue solutions that are compatible with our aim of protecting the integrity of the Single Market and Ireland’s place in it.

This extensive political, diplomatic, and official campaign has been effective. This was reflected most recently in the clear statement of support given by Michel Barnier when he said that Ireland’s interests in the upcoming negotiations will be the EU’s interests. Even more importantly, this has been demonstrated in practice through the strong acknowledgement of Ireland’s issues in the European Council Guidelines, the detailed negotiating Directives and the European Parliament’s resolution on Brexit.

We have already taken important steps to prepare our economy, including in Budget 2017, the Action Plan for Jobs 2017, and our New Trade and Investment Strategy. Now that the EU’s initial negotiating position is clear, the Government will intensify its focus on the economic implications of Brexit. In order to underpin this, building on the recent Government strategy document released on 2 May, a further paper on the economic implications of the Brexit challenge is being developed.

Ireland’s economic interests lie firmly in a strong and well-functioning EU with continued and unfettered access to the Single Market. In terms of Brexit, the Government is working to minimise any negative impact on our economy and to provide clarity and certainty for our businesses that are trading with the UK. To this end, the Government’s consistent position is that we wish to see the closest possible trading relationship based on a level playing field between the UK and the EU, including Ireland.

I hope that we can see substantial progress in the initial phase of the negotiations so that we can start talks on the framework for the future relationship between the UK and the EU as early as possible.

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