Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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38. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the consideration that has been given at Government and EU level to the creation of a special economic zone in Northern Ireland and the Border counties in view of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39892/17]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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40. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the comments made by Michel Barnier that the Border cannot be used as a test case for an EU-UK border; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39849/17]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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44. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress that is being made regarding Border solutions and Brexit; if specific provisions will be made for Brexit related issues in his Department's budget for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39700/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 38, 40 and 44 together.

Since taking up office, engagement on Brexit with EU partners has been a central element of my work. This approach has yielded clear results in ensuring that Ireland’s unique issues and concerns have been fully understood by our EU27 partners and have been reflected in the EU’s negotiating position. As the negotiations enter an important phase over the coming weeks and months, continuing such engagement with EU partners, both at political and official level, will remain a key priority. On Monday 4 September, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade met with Michel Barnier, the EU’s Chief Negotiator on Brexit, and his team. During our discussion, Minister Coveney thanked Mr. Barnier for pursuing Ireland’s unique interests in the Brexit negotiations and for the high level of engagement that Ireland enjoys with his team. It was agreed that, while good progress was made in the last round of negotiations on the Common Travel Area, more detailed work is required on protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and the peace process, including in regard to North South cooperation and to avoiding a hard border, as well as other issues such as protecting the EU rights of Irish citizens in Northern Ireland. Overall, Minister Coveney welcomed the indications that EU and UK objectives on the Irish issues are converging but noted that the UK needs to back this up with tangible commitments that can pave the way for practical solutions.

Following this meeting, on 7 September, the European Commission Taskforce published a paper on “Guiding Principles for the Dialogue on Ireland/Northern Ireland”, building on the European Council Guidelines agreed earlier this year. This paper reflects the priority Irish issues identified by the Government, including the complex issue of the border, and makes it clear that it is the UK’s responsibility to propose workable solutions in this regard. It is the Government’s view that the UK staying in the customs union and single market, or as close as possible to that, would be the best solution.

In all of our engagements, the Government has 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. The Government has been clear on the unique nature of the circumstances on the island of Ireland and this point has been echoed by Mr Barnier. We are acutely aware of the potential impact of Brexit on the border region and on people living there. In emphasising the need for imaginative and flexible political solutions for the island of Ireland, the Government has 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. Minister Coveney and I will continue to deliver this message in our engagements in the coming weeks and months.

With respect to the creation of a special economic zone, as Minister Coveney has previously indicated to Deputy Martin, the Government is open to careful consideration of any approach or proposal that makes sense for progressing such a fundamental matter as the future of relations between Ireland and the UK. Apart from the UK, Ireland is the country most vulnerable to the effects of Brexit and it is everyone’s interests that we maintain an openness to new ideas and proposals.

In relation to specific provision for Brexit in the budget for 2018, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the 2018 estimates process. The 2018 allocation will be announced by the Finance Minister on budget day.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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29. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he continues to emphasise the fundamental importance of the Good Friday Agreement in the context of discussions between the EU and UK on Brexit with particular reference to the need to retain the status quo here with unimpeded access to traditional markets and recognition of the need to ensure that Ireland remains at the centre of Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39852/17]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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46. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which he expects the Good Friday Agreement will be protected as a result of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39768/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 46 together.

The Good Friday Agreement is the overarching framework for deepening peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland and has also contributed to increased economic prosperity on the island as a whole. As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government is determined to ensure that all aspects of the Agreement are fully respected throughout the process of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, and thereafter.

Our EU partners are fully aware and supportive of the importance of respecting the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and protecting the gains of the peace process. On Monday 4 September, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade met with Michel Barnier, the EU’s Chief Negotiator on Brexit, and his team. It was agreed that, while good progress was made in the last round of negotiations on the Common Travel Area, more detailed work is required on protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and the peace process, including in regard to North South cooperation and to avoiding a hard border, as well as other issues such as protecting the EU rights of Irish citizens in Northern Ireland. Overall, Minister Coveney welcomed the indications that EU and UK objectives on the Irish issues are converging but noted that the UK needs to back this up with tangible commitments that can pave the way for practical solutions.

Following this meeting, on 7 September, the European Commission Taskforce published a paper on “Guiding Principles for the Dialogue on Ireland/Northern Ireland”, building on the European Council Guidelines agreed earlier this year. This paper reflects the priority Irish issues identified by the Government, including the complex issue of the border, and makes it clear that it is the UK’s responsibility to propose workable solutions in this regard.

In all of our engagements, the Government has 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. The Government has been clear on the unique nature of the circumstances on the island of Ireland and this point has been echoed by Mr. Barnier.

The Government is also committed to minimising the impact of Brexit on trade and the economy. While imaginative and flexible solutions will be required to address the complex issues associated with the border, the Government is 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. Our membership of the EU, including the Single Market and Customs Union, has been central to the success of our open, competitive economy and has been the foundation for much of the economic and social progress we have made over the last four decades. Ireland will continue to work with our EU partners as a fully committed member of the European Union.

The Government has also been clear in its desire to maintain the closest possible trading relationship with the UK after it leaves the EU. Questions regarding the future relationship between the EU and the UK are a matter for the second phase of negotiations, and discussions on these can only begin once sufficient progress has been made on the three baskets of issues identified for the first phase of the EU-UK negotiations.

We are not under any illusions about the complexity of the UK exit from the EU. We have taken important steps to prepare our economy, through Budget 2017, the Action Plan for Jobs 2017 and our Trade and Investment Strategy. More work is being carried out in this area. Our enterprise agencies continue to work with companies to help them deal with Brexit – making them more competitive, diversifying their market exposure and up-skilling their teams.

The Government will continue to be proactive in its objectives to minimise the impact on the island of Ireland of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.