Wednesday, 10 May 2017

Written Answers Nos. 1-50

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Ceisteanna (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

4. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meetings in The Hague; the items that were discussed; and the follow-up actions that are being taken. [20402/17]

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

5. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to President Hollande recently. [20410/17]

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

6. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with Prime Minister Rutte; and if he agreed with the Government's requests on Brexit negotiations. [20412/17]

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

7. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meetings with the Danish and Dutch Prime Ministers and the details of any agreements made regarding a common approach to Brexit. [20416/17]

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

8. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey recently; and if the recent referendum result was discussed with other EU leaders when he met them in The Hague. [20721/17]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 8, inclusive, together.

I travelled to The Hague on 21 April 2017 for a meeting with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, and the Prime Minister of Denmark, Lars Løkke Rasmussen. Our discussions were largely focussed on Brexit and we also touched briefly on EU-US relations. We did not discuss the outcome of the Turkish referendum. The meeting took place in the context of the Government's ongoing programme of strategic engagement on Brexit and was the latest in a series of meetings with my EU counterparts. I have also met recently with my counterparts in Germany, Belgium, Poland and Spain, and with the Presidents of the EU institutions and the Head of the Brexit Task Force, who will be in Dublin again tomorrow. I last met bilaterally with President Hollande during his visit to Dublin in July 2016, although I have of course met and spoken informally with him in the margins of the European Council since then. I have not met with President Erdogan in recent times.

The meeting in The Hague provided an opportunity to share our views on the issues arising from Brexit, ahead of the adoption of the EU's negotiating guidelines by the European Council on 29 April. We agreed on the importance of maintaining the EU27 unity which has marked our approach until now.

I also took the opportunity at the meeting, as I do in all my bilateral engagements, to explain in some detail our unique concerns arising from Brexit, including protecting the Peace Process, avoiding a hard border, and maintaining the common travel area with the UK. I outlined the particular implications for Ireland, North and South, and also described recent political developments in Northern Ireland. I am pleased that Ireland's unique concerns have been fully reflected in the guidelines, which outline the EU approach for the withdrawal negotiations.

Questions Nos. 9 and 10 resubmitted.

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Ceisteanna (11, 12, 13)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

11. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his conversation with Prime Minister May after she announced the snap election in the UK; and if they discussed Northern Ireland. [20403/17]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

12. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to Prime Minister Theresa May since a new general election was called in Britain. [20692/17]

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

13. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach the discussions he has had with political leaders in Northern Ireland regarding the formation of a new administration following the recent Assembly elections. [20726/17]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 13, inclusive, together.

I spoke to Prime Minister May by phone on 18th April following the announcement of her plans to hold a general election in the UK.

We discussed the upcoming Brexit negotiations and I reiterated our commitment to ensuring the best possible outcome for Ireland while negotiating as an integral part of the EU 27 team. We also discussed the need to recognise the close trading links between our intertwined economies and re-affirmed our commitment to an open border and the retention of the Common Travel Area.

We also discussed the political situation in Northern Ireland and noted that the election would have a direct impact on the timing of the ongoing talks process. I expressed the hope that the talks could continue to a successful conclusion and I emphasised to the Prime Minister that a return to direct rule in Northern Ireland could not be contemplated.

Minister Flanagan had a range of contacts with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the political parties regarding the merits of continuing structured talks in the context of an election campaign. There was a wide-spread view that given the demands and constraints of the election campaign, the best course was to pause the current talks until after the general election takes place on 8 June.

The new legislative deadline for forming the Executive is 29 June. There will therefore be sufficient opportunity after 8 June for talks to resume and for the parties, with the appropriate support and involvement of the two Governments, to re-engage on the urgent task of forming a new Executive and taking forward the implementation of outstanding commitments from previous Agreements.

It is critically important to see devolved Government restored and working effectively in the interests of the people of Northern Ireland, in particular in the context of Brexit.

As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government is determined to uphold its principles and protect its institutions.

We will continue to work to this end with the British Government to support and facilitate the parties in their efforts to reach agreement.

Questions Nos. 14 to 16, inclusive, resubmitted

European Council Meetings

Ceisteanna (17, 18, 19, 20)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

17. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the EU Council meeting on 29 April 2017; and the details of the contributions he made at the meeting. [20404/17]

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

18. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meetings at the Special European Council on 29 April 2017. [20417/17]

Joan Burton

Ceist:

19. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the most recent European Council meeting. [20445/17]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on bilateral meetings he had at the European Summit on 29 April 2017. [20693/17]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 to 20, inclusive, together.

As I outlined last week in my statement to the House, I attended the meeting of the European Council on 29 April. This was the first meeting since Prime Minister May formally notified the European Union of the UK's intention to leave, thereby triggering Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union; and it was therefore a meeting of the 27 remaining Member States.

We adopted the EU negotiating guidelines, and had a broad-ranging discussion about the process ahead. Presidents Tusk and Junker also outlined the process and timelines around the relocation of the two EU agencies currently located in the UK. 

The outcome of the meeting, included the overall EU approach to the withdrawal negotiations, and the acknowledgement of the need to address Ireland's unique concerns, as set out in the guidelines. The declaration which was agreed by the European Council, which provides reassurance that no provision of the Good Friday Agreement, including the provision relating to unity, will be undermined by the UK departure from the EU. 

It was by no means a given that Ireland’s position would be seen as a priority for the negotiations but, thanks to our strategic, persistent and patient work, and the understanding and support of our European partners, Ireland’s specific concerns were fully acknowledged in the guidelines. Supporting and protecting the achievements, benefits and commitments of the Peace Process; avoiding a hard border; and protecting the Common Travel Area will now be addressed as priorities in the exit negotiations.

There was no discussion about the future of the EU at this April meeting of the European Council but it has been considered and discussed at a number of meetings, including informal meetings of the European Council in Bratislava, in Brussels, in Malta and in Rome.

I did not have any bilateral meetings at the European Council on 29 April although I did of course engage with my counterparts at the meeting and informally in the margins.

Questions Nos. 21 to 23, inclusive, resubmitted.

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Ceisteanna (24)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

24. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Health is next meeting. [20061/17]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The Cabinet Committee on Health last met on 27 April and will meet again in the coming weeks.

Questions Nos. 25 to 39, inclusive, resubmitted.

Questions Nos. 40 to 50, inclusive, answered orally.