Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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173. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his discussions with officials in his Department in respect of the commencement of Brexit negotiations. [28793/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, with special responsibility for Brexit, has coincided with an important milestone in the Brexit process, coming shortly before the formal launch of the Article 50 negotiations between the EU and the UK. The immediate focus of my discussions with the responsible officials in my Department was on preparing my attendance at the General Affairs Council (Article 50) on Tuesday 20 June, on which occasion I also undertook a number of bilateral meetings with EU partners.

At General Affairs Council (Art. 50), EU27 Ministers received a short update from Michel Barnier on the launch of the negotiations in advance of his briefing of the EU27 Heads of State and Government at the European Council (Art. 50) on Thursday 22 June.

I subsequently met with Michel Barnier on a bilateral basis, providing a timely opportunity to reiterate Ireland’s key priorities and concerns.

During this meeting, as well as my contacts with other EU counterparts, I laid particular emphasis on Ireland’s objective of protecting the gains of the peace process and avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland.

I also stressed the importance of ensuring that a positive tone is struck and that momentum in created so that progress can be made as quickly as possible on the many complex issues facing the negotiators.

The EU has set out its position clearly and in this position there is a strong acknowledgment of Ireland's unique concerns and priorities, including on protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and the gains of the peace process, avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland and maintaining the Common Travel Area.

It is important that in this first phase of the negotiations, sufficient progress is made on our issues , together with the issues of citizens' rights and the UK's financial liabilities, so that we can move as quickly as possible to begin discussions on the framework of the future relationship between the EU and the UK, including on trade.

Minimising the impact of Brexit on Ireland's trade and economy is also a key priority for the Irish Government and I will be working with my colleagues across Government to ensure that the Brexit negotiations can lead to the closest possible relationship between the EU and the UK and that effective transitional arrangements are put in place to smooth the path to this new relationship.

During my discussions with officials in my Department, I have also indicated my desire to maintain an intensive programme of engagement with EU partners, building on the meetings I have already undertaken at the GAC (Art. 50) this week and the introductory phone calls I have had with my colleagues across Europe in recent days. I also hope to meet with Secretary of State Davis at an early stage.