Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Second Secretary General in the Department of the Taoiseach acts as Ireland's Sherpa and, in this capacity, meets and engages regularly with his EU counterparts.

Since the triggering of Article 50 on 29 March, there have been two formal Sherpa meetings under the Article 50 format - one on 11 April, and another on 24 April. Ireland participated fully in both of these. The discussions focused on the EU negotiating guidelines, which were subsequently agreed by the European Council on 29 April.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Northern Ireland remains a key priority for the Irish Government.

The interests of the island as a whole and protecting the gains of the peace process remain a priority for the Government in the upcoming Brexit negotiations, as we have stated clearly all along.

There has been on going engagement between North and South on Brexit however this has been difficult in the absence of a functioning Northern Ireland Executive. It is critically important to see devolved Government restored and working effectively in the interests of the people of Northern Ireland, in particular in the context of Brexit.

There is ongoing analysis of all Brexit related issues across Government Departments on the full range of impacts including potential impacts on North/South including technical & legal aspects. This work is being co-ordinated through the Cabinet Committee on Brexit and the Interdepartmental Group on Brexit.

The EU guidelines for the negotiations include very strong acknowledgement of our unique circumstances and the need to protect the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement. They provide that existing bilateral agreements and arrangements between the United Kingdom and Ireland, which are compatible with EU law, should be recognised.

The Irish Government wishes to see the closest possible relationship between the EU and the UK as an outcome of the negotiations and is fully committed to membership of the EU while maintaining close bilateral relations with the UK and protecting all parts of the Good Friday Agreement, including North/South Co-operation.

Ireland is not leaving the EU and remains fully committed to our membership of the EU. We will be very much part of the EU team in negotiations ahead. The negotiations on withdrawal of UK from the EU have not yet started therefore we cannot pre-empt the outcome at this stage.