Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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67. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on recent comments by the Advocate General to the European Court of Justice on Article 50; and his views on whether the UK could revoke its withdrawal without approval by member states. [51794/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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On 10 December, the European Court of Justice gave its judgement that the UK can revoke its Article 50 notification, unilaterally, at any point up to its withdrawal from the Union. The Court made clear that it would have to be an unequivocal and unconditional decision, taken in accordance with the UK’s constitutional requirements. Were the UK to decide to revoke, the withdrawal procedure would be ended and the UK would remain an EU Member State. Ultimately, any decision to revoke its Article 50 notification would be for the UK, and it would not be appropriate to comment on what would be an internal matter for it. The EU and UK have agreed a withdrawal agreement and political declaration on the framework for the future relationship. Our focus is on seeing this deal ratified and implemented.