Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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65. To ask the Taoiseach his understanding of an invisible border with Northern Ireland following Brexit. [30896/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s position in relation to the border with Northern Ireland in the context of Brexit is very clear. Continued freedom of movement, absence of an economic border, and protection of the Good Friday Agreement are key objectives for the Irish Government.

We want to see the closest possible future relationship between the EU and the UK.

We want to maintain the reciprocity of civic rights that exist between Britain and Ireland as part of the Common Travel Area, the right of Irish citizens and British citizens to travel, live, work, study, reside and access public services in each other’s countries and that we are citizens in both.

We want to ensure as much as is possible that while there may be a political border between our two countries, that there should not be an economic border.

But we also recognise that this will be extremely challenging. The EU negotiation guidelines recognise that the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland will require “flexible and imaginative” solutions.

This Government will play its part in working constructively with all our partners – in Northern Ireland, in Britain and across the EU – to find solutions that are in the best interests of everyone on these islands.