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Joint Committee on European Union Affairs to discuss Irish priorities at European Parliament

23 Sep 2019, 14:32

The Joint Committee on European Union Affairs will meet tomorrow for discussions with new and returning MEPs elected from constituencies across Ireland.

The purpose of the meeting, in Committee Room 1 at 12.30pm, is to discuss priorities for the new 2019-2024 session of the European Parliament.

Tuesday’s meeting will be facilitated through a video-conference facility for members, and Committee proceedings can be viewed live here

Ahead of the meeting, Committee Chairperson Michael Healy-Rae said: “Thursday marks five weeks to the eve of Brexit when the UK is due to leave the European Union. The Dáil resumed last week, and it’s clear that we are hitting the ground running.

“While talks between the UK government and the European Commission are ongoing, the events of the last few weeks have not been encouraging. I was particularly disheartened to hear Michel Barnier say that he was “not optimistic” that a deal could be done in time.

“The meeting between the Prime Minister and the President of the European Commission in Luxembourg highlighted the fact that concrete proposals for an alternative to the ‘backstop’ that have any chance of actually working, have not yet been put forward. That is not good enough. Time is running out.

"We cannot take for granted that the UK government will seek another extension, or that the European Council would agree one. I sincerely hope that a resolution can be found. And if we cannot rely on an agreement emerging, then we need to get ready quickly for whatever may happen.”

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