Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2019
101. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he spoke to or met Prime Minister May before the EU Council meeting on 10 April 2019; if so, the issues regarding Brexit that were discussed; if protection of the Single Market was discussed; and if citizens’ rights and direct rule were also mentioned. [17619/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra108. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to Prime Minister May since she made her public announcement on reaching out to the Labour Party on 2 April 2019. [16362/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 108 together.
I last saw Prime Minister May on the margins of the Special European Council meeting on 10 April. At that meeting, PM May presented her case for a further extension of the Article 50 deadline.
The House will be aware that the European Council agreed to an extension of the deadline to 31 October 2019, provided that the UK participates in the European Parliament elections next month.
Prior to that meeting, I spoke to Prime Minister May by phone on the evening of 8 April 2019 when we discussed her letter to Donald Tusk seeking an extension of the Article 50 deadline, and preparations for the Summit. During our discussion I repeated to Prime Minister May my openness to an extension of the Article 50 deadline.
While we did not go into detail on issues such as the single market or citizens rights, I repeated the firm EU position that the Withdrawal Agreement could not be renegotiated and Prime Minister May indicated that this was understood.
She did not raise the possibility of direct rule during our conversation. However, UK Ministers and officials have indicated on a number of occasions that the introduction of direct rule is a possibility in current circumstances. The position of the Irish Government remains that it is opposed to the re-introduction of direct rule for Northern Ireland.
I welcome the agreement reached last week between the EU 27 and UK on the Brexit extension. I firmly believe that the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement by the House of Commons is in all our interests and I hope the time extension will enable the deal to be agreed.
Irish and British officials are in close ongoing contact on all relevant issues.
