Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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103. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the informal Heads of Government summit in Salzburg and, in particular, his meeting with the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May. [39023/18]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I attended the Informal Summit in Salzburg on 19 / 20 September where I met with my EU counterparts. We discussed migration, internal security and Brexit.

On Brexit, Prime Minister May presented the UK perspective after dinner on Wednesday evening.

The EU27 met in Article 50 format the following day to review progress in the negotiations and to discuss next steps.

Michel Barnier provided his assessment of progress in the negotiations on the Withdrawal Agreement to date, on issues that remain to be resolved.

On the Protocol on Northern Ireland and Ireland, Mr Barnier outlined his efforts to ‘de-dramatise’ the backstop. Partners expressed strong support for Mr. Barnier and his mandate as EU negotiator. They also reiterated their steadfast solidarity with Ireland on its unique concerns, and the need to ensure that a legally operable version of the backstop is included in the Withdrawal Agreement.

I also had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May in the margins of the Summit on Thursday 20 September.

I reiterated that I hope the future relationship between the EU and the UK will be as close, comprehensive and ambitious as possible, but that it is essential that the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, is agreed first.

I stressed too, that there is not much time left if we are to conclude a Withdrawal Agreement, and have it operational by the time the UK leaves the EU.

The PM said that the UK would be bringing forward proposals for a backstop.

I also raised the current political situation in Northern Ireland and underlined the need to get the devolved institutions up and running again.