Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 September 2016
1511. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has sought a meeting or is planning to seek a meeting with the person who has been appointed chief negotiator for Brexit on behalf of the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24646/16]
View answerI welcome Michel Barnier’s appointment as the European Commission’s chief negotiator for Brexit, and I look forward to hearing his plans for the conduct of exit negotiations with the UK under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union.
My priority for the exit negotiations is to achieve the best possible outcome for farmers and for the Irish agri-food sector as a whole, consistent with the Government’s overall aim of ensuring a strong EU-UK relationship and a well-managed withdrawal. In that regard, engagement with EU partners and the EU institutions remains a high priority. All members of the Government will remain actively engaged with their European counterparts and, as the negotiations get underway, this will include consultation with the Commission’s chief negotiator, as appropriate.
