Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 February 2017
116. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if issues referred to by a person (details supplied) at a Westminster committee in relation to border controls and the imposition of same should Britain leave the EU have been discussed at the EU Council of Finance Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6374/17]
View answerSince the referendum outcome, I have met with my EU counterparts at the ECOFIN and Eurogroup meetings on a regular basis. In line with the agreement at EU level that there will be no negotiations until the UK has triggered Article 50, the matter was not discussed at these meetings. On the margins of these meetings however, while fully respecting the principle of no negotiations, I have taken the opportunity in exchanges with partners (as have other Government Ministers) to underline Ireland's unique relationship with the UK and our specific concerns in relation to Northern Ireland, North-South relations, the Common Travel Area and the interconnectedness of our trade.
The Government's position is very clear in that we want the closest possible trading relationship with the UK. As articulated by the Taoiseach, any manifestation of a hard border would have very negative consequences. In that regard a key priority is to ensure the continued free flow of trade on the island and the need to avoid a hard border.
