Wednesday, 15 Feb 2017

Written Answers Nos. 1 - 46

Ministerial Meetings

Ceisteanna (20, 21)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

20. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he discussed immigration and border security with the British Prime Minister, Ms Theresa May, when they met on 30 January 2017. [5772/17]

Joan Burton

Ceist:

21. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach the contact he has had with the Scottish First Minister regarding the United Kingdom invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty since the January 2017 visit to Dublin by the UK Prime Minister, Ms Theresa May. [5822/17]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together.

I had a very good meeting with Prime Minister May when she was in Dublin on 30 January. At the meeting and in our press conference after it, we both repeated our desire to keep the Common Travel Area arrangements in place and agreed to continue working together to this end. We also discussed the necessity of ensuring the continued free flow of trade on the island and I made clear to the Prime Minister that in my view any reintroduction of a border would would have very negative consequences.

Ireland and the United Kingdom have always cooperated closely on jointly securing the external border of the Common Travel Area (CTA) and we intend to continue to do so in the future. In this regard, we will continue to maintain and enhance cooperation with the UK in relation to general immigration and border enforcement, recognising of course that Ireland will remain a committed member of the European Union and will continue to uphold the right of free movement for all EU citizens after the UK leaves the Union.

First Minister Sturgeon and I held a meeting last November following the British Irish Council Summit in Cardiff. Minister Flanagan also met with her during her subsequent visit to Dublin. I have not had direct contact with her recently but there is ongoing engagement, at diplomatic and official level, with the Scottish Government, including through the Consul General's office in Edinburgh and our Embassy in London.

Immigration Controls

Ceisteanna (22)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

22. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the person or body that will undertake the review of the preclearance agreement in Dublin and Shannon airports; and when he expects it to be completed. [5773/17]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

A review of US Preclearance in Ireland is currently being undertaken by the relevant Departments - the Department of Justice and Equality, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, with the assistance of the Office of the Attorney General as appropriate. I expect that the report will be finalised shortly.

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Ceisteanna (23)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

23. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Arts, Irish and the Gaeltacht last met. [5820/17]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The Cabinet Committee on Arts, Irish, the Gaeltacht and the Islands last met on the 13th of October 2016. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday 27th February.

Questions Nos. 24 to 32, inclusive, resubmitted.

Brexit Issues

Ceisteanna (33)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

33. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the details of the CSO report on Brexit published on 7 December 2016. [40118/16]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

Following the vote by the United Kingdom to leave the EU in June 2016, the CSO decided to compile a suite of aggregate tables which describes the relationship between Ireland and the UK in numbers. This report “Brexit: Ireland and the UK in numbers” contains 24 tables covering the main areas for which the CSO has data on our engagement with the UK. This report is available on the CSO website - www.cso.ie. An electronic version of the Brexit report, which contains some extra data, was published by the CSO on 20 December 2016.

Question No. 34 resubmitted.

Questions Nos. 35 to 46, inclusive, answered orally.