Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 February 2017
337. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the composition of the European Union's team that will be engaged in the Brexit negotiations; and if representatives of the Government will be directly involved in those negotiations. [6024/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the meeting on 15 December 2016 of 27 Heads of State or Government (HoSG), including the Taoiseach, agreement was reached on the procedural arrangements to apply on the EU side in the upcoming negotiations process. These are based on the provisions of Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union.
Following notification by the UK Government, the EU27 HoSG will adopt guidelines defining the framework for the negotiations.
The General Affairs Council will then adopt more detailed negotiating directives and will authorise the opening of the negotiations.
The guidelines and negotiating directives will be updated as necessary in the course of the negotiations.
The European Commission will be the Union negotiator. Its team will be led by Michel Barnier and will include a representative of the rotating Presidency of the Council. Representatives of the President of the European Council will be present alongside the European Commission representatives at all negotiating sessions. As is the case in all European Union negotiations, Individual Member States will not be present at these sessions.
However, progress will be monitored, and guidance given to the Commission, by a dedicated Working Party involving all Member States, which in turn will report to COREPER, on which Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the European Union sits. It is expected that the Working Party will meet at least once a week.
The negotiations will therefore be under the overall strategic and political guidance of the European Council and the General Affairs Council, and will be scrutinised in great detail at senior official and Ambassadorial levels.
We will pursue our national interests and priorities fully within this framework.
