Charlie Flanagan rules out ‘minister for Brexit’ demand

Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan has rejected an Opposition demand that a Cabinet member have special responsibility for Brexit. "My own view, informed by my deep engagement in EU matters, is that it would be a mistake to appoint a Brexit minister.''

Mr Flanagan told the Seanad that Ireland and the EU were so integrated and Ireland's relationship with the UK was such that every Government department was impacted.

Every department was needed to engage with Brexit and mitigating its effects, he said.

"Add to that the fact that at political level it is the European Council, of which the Taoiseach is a member, who will set the political direction of the negotiations.

“In turn, the Taoiseach chairs the Cabinet committee on Brexit which oversees the Government response, co-ordinating its work.’’

Mr Flanagan said he would be working closely with the Taoiseach and all his ministerial colleagues on the issue. “As you know my department works closely right across government at all times in all policy areas with an international or North-South dimension.’’

Crucial role

He said the 80-strong mission network under his department had a crucial role to play both within the EU in respect of strategy and outside it in terms of wider trade and other bilateral interests.

Mr Flanagan said it was positive there was no longer any uncertainty about the date by which article 50 would be invoked – the end of March – thereby setting the negotiating process in train. This was in line with the Government’s expectations and its extensive contacts with the UK and other EU partners,.

He said the united EU position remained there could be no negotiations before the notification under article 50 was made.

“We adhere to that approach, but it does not mean that we cannot have exploratory discussions on the important bilateral issues which need to be sorted out.’’

Mr Flanagan said the rather general concept of “hard Brexit’’ allowed for a range of possible outcomes on key issues, and these would have to be teased out in detail, first by the UK itself and then in the negotiating process.