Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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245. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures he is planning to ensure no emergence of regulatory divergence from those rules of the Internal Market and the customs union which are necessary for meaningful North-South co-operation, the all-island economy and protection of the Good Friday Agreement. [49074/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government's clear position is that we need to avoid any risks presented by regulatory divergence so as to ensure that North South cooperation, which is facilitated and supported by a shared EU regulatory framework on this island, can continue unimpeded after the UK leaves the EU. Therefore, the Government will continue to advocate that the best solution for Northern Ireland is for the UK to remain effectively in a Customs Union and Single Market arrangement.

If the UK continues to rule out this option, it must present alternative workable solutions that will ensure there is no hard border nor any border infrastructure on the island of Ireland. Avoiding regulatory divergence will be an important element in this regard. North/South cooperation is a central part of the Good Friday Agreement. The EU Commission Taskforce has recognised the central importance of North South Cooperation and states that it should be protected across all relevant sectors.

Officials have been carrying out detailed work over the last few weeks to map out areas of cooperation that operate on a North South basis on the island of Ireland and which rely on EU law and policies. There is still more work to be done in this area, but it has underlined the need to avoid risks presented by any regulatory divergence from the rules of the EU Single Market and Customs Union. North South cooperation has made an important contribution, through the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, to the improvement of people's lives on this island. We want to ensure that this cooperation can continue in a meaningful way.

The UK has a responsibility to ensure that it does not hinder or impede the continuation and development of North South cooperation by its withdrawal from the EU.

Ireland is working closely with the Commission Task Force to advance progress on Irish issues in the negotiations with the UK. The EU is united in the negotiations and fully behind the excellent work being done by its Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier, and his team.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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246. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the working paper in relation to the dialogue on Ireland and Northern Ireland. [49075/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am not going to comment on the detail of internal EU working documents tabled in Brussels. However, both the EU and Ireland have been clear about the current state of play on negotiations on the priority exit issues, including the Irish issues.

There is nothing new emerging about EU positions on Ireland and Northern Ireland; the principles set out in the EU Guidelines for the negotiations and subsequent papers strongly acknowledge Ireland's concerns and priorities.

The Government has also been consistent in what we require.

At this point in the negotiations, it is entirely appropriate that the EU would seek further clarity on UK positions and call on the UK to provide strong political assurances and tangible commitments ahead of any decision on whether sufficient progress has been achieved on the Irish specific issues that recognise the unique situation on the island of Ireland, and that flexible and imaginative solutions will be required.

Ireland is working closely with the Commission Task Force to advance progress on Irish issues in the negotiations with the UK. The EU is united in the negotiations and fully behind the excellent work being done by its Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier, and his team.