Michael Moynihan
Ceist:88. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he was last briefed on the ongoing Brexit discussions between the EU and the UK. [37645/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 18 September 2019
Ceisteanna (88)
Freagraí scríofa
My officials and I remain in close contact with the European Commission and Taskforce members on Brexit matters.
Together with EU partners, we are regularly briefed by the Commission regarding ongoing talks between the EU and the UK on Brexit.
Talks between Task Force and the UK’s Chief Negotiator David Frost have been ongoing since the end of July, becoming more frequent since the end of August.
In his recent address to the European Parliament Conference of Presidents on 12 September, Mr Barnier said that the EU is willing to consider any proposals from the United Kingdom which are workable and compatible with the Withdrawal Agreement, but that ‘ball is clearly in the United Kingdom’s court’. The European Commission is yet to receive concrete written proposals that are legally operational from the UK Government.
Mr Barnier has made clear that the EU remains firm on the need to avoid a physical border on the island of Ireland, the preservation of the integrity of the Single Market and the protection of North-South cooperation and the all-island economy, all of which are essential elements for peace and stability in Ireland.