As the Deputy is aware, Brexit and its implications for Ireland is an issue of the highest priority for me personally and for this Government.
At political and official level, there has been close and regular engagement with the UK administration through existing frameworks. I spoke with Theresa May on the day of her appointment, and had a bilateral meeting with her in London shortly thereafter. More recently, at the European Council meeting in Brussels on 20-21 October, although the UK's decision to leave the EU was not formally on the agenda for this meeting, Prime Minister May updated EU leaders on recent developments in the UK, as an information point. She confirmed that the decision to leave the EU is irreversible for her Government, and that the UK will invoke Article 50 before the end of March next year.
At EU level, I have also had extensive discussions with partners and the Institutions both in bilateral exchanges and in the wider format of the European Council itself, most recently last week in Brussels. At every opportunity in these exchanges I raise the well-known priority issues for Ireland, in relation to Northern Ireland, the Common Travel Area, our economy and the future of the EU itself.
As agreed among EU leaders in June, there can be no formal negotiation with the United Kingdom until Article 50 is triggered.
We also await more detail from the UK on what kind of future relationship it will seek with the EU. The current lack of clarity however does not preclude us from preparing for the negotiations and, indeed, this work began over 12 months ago. Since the referendum result, work has intensified across Government with a view to safeguarding Ireland's interests, minimising any adverse impacts on our economy and on the free movement of people, goods and services on these islands, and ensuring that stability in Northern Ireland is maintained. We will also continue to work with our EU partners and with the UK with the aim of ensuring a strong EU-UK relationship and a well-managed withdrawal.
