Darragh O'Brien
Question:418. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recent meetings he has had with EU counterparts on Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36422/17]
View answerWednesday, 26 July 2017
Questions (418)
Written answers
In order to ensure that Ireland’s key priorities and concerns in regard to Brexit are understood by our partners, the Government undertook an intensive campaign of engagement with our EU partners and the EU Institutions in the period leading up to the adoption by the European Council of the guidelines for the negotiations. This approach delivered for Ireland, with our unique issues placed on the agenda for the first phase of the EU-UK negotiations.
I am continuing these efforts. I have already held bilateral meetings with a number of my EU colleagues since assuming my new role, including with the EU’s lead negotiator, Michel Barnier, as well as with my Estonian, Luxembourg, French, Slovak, Belgian and Spanish counterparts. I also welcomed the Finnish Foreign Minister to Ireland earlier this month and my officials are currently finalising the details of further engagements in the autumn.
In these meetings, I have laid particular emphasis on Ireland’s objective of protecting the gains of the peace process and avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland. I have strongly emphasised the need for an imaginative and flexible political solution. In so doing, I have been equally clear that we will only pursue solutions that are compatible with our aim of protecting the integrity of the Single Market and Ireland’s place in it.
It was important to use these opportunities to also acknowledge the support of our partners in agreeing to the inclusion in the EU’s negotiating position of elements addressing the particular challenges faced by Ireland.
I have also stressed the importance of ensuring that the positive momentum from the early rounds of EU-UK negotiations is maintained so that progress can be made as quickly as possible on the many complex issues facing the negotiators. It is important to make sufficient progress on the exit issues, including citizens’ rights, the financial settlement and the Irish specific issues, in phase one of the negotiations so that we can move to opening discussions with the UK on the future relationship issues, as well as on effective transitional arrangements, as soon as possible.
I should add that my Department and our Embassies are also continuing to engage with their counterparts, as are colleagues in government, including the Minister of State for European Affairs.