Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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27. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on his recent meeting with the UK Home Secretary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44074/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that I met with the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd MP, last Wednesday 11 October, in London. We were joined at the meeting by Justice Secretary, David Lidington MP, and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire MP.

Our discussions focused on the ongoing cooperation between Ireland and the United Kingdom on criminal justice, immigration, security and civil justice matters. The meeting formed part of the regular engagement my Department has with our counterparts in the UK on these important issues.

During the meeting, we reaffirmed the commitment of both the Irish and UK Government towards maintaining the Common Travel Area and welcomed the progress on agreeing common principles for the CTA in the Article 50 negotiations.

We also discussed the importance of continuing the excellent cooperation our countries have on criminal and civil justice matters. In this regard, I emphasised the importance of ensuring that effective transitional arrangements be put in place following the UK's withdrawal from the EU to ensure that the present levels of cooperation are maintained, and that an orderly transition to any new arrangements can be assured.