The Government is ready to meet the "very serious challenges" caused by the Brexit vote, Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan said after meeting senior political leaders at Stormont on Wednesday.
Mr Flanagan travelled to Belfast to hold talks with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers and DUP First Minister Arlene Foster, who both supported the Leave campaign. He also met other politicians, including Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, who backed the Remain side.
Unique circumstances
The meeting originally was scheduled to review progress following last November’s Fresh Start agreement, but instead the focus was on what is to be be done following the referendum vote to take the UK out of the EU.
“The central plank of our negotiations will be the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland and the integrity of the Good Friday Agreement,” Mr Flanagan said.
He made clear the Government was anxious to avoid any future Border controls or restrictions on the movement of people, goods and services. He acknowledged, however, that the EU could have a different view to Dublin, London and Belfast on the issue.
“There is so much London, Belfast and Dublin can agree, but ultimately we are likely to be faced with a new frontier where this issue will be decided in a larger arena,” he said.
“No one wants the re-emergence of hard borders between the North and South. However this is an ultimate decision that will be made perhaps not in Belfast or in Dublin,” he added.
“It is important therefore in the context of the negotiations attended by both the Taoiseach and myself that we reinforce the importance of freedom of movement, of people and of goods, across the Border between North and South.”
The Minister said it was “important that we all work together to ensure that any adverse consequences are minimised”.
“I have no doubt that having met and successfully concluded very important sets of negotiations in the past, that the political will is here on all sides to ensure that whatever the outcome, there will be no adverse impact on the peace process and on the prosperity agenda here in Northern Ireland and across the island of Ireland.”
Uncharted waters
The Minister also acknowledged there was no definitive plan for the period ahead. “We are looking at a situation where this whole framework of negotiations is only being worked out . . .
“We are ready. We have met very serious political challenges in the past. In the more recent past we have met very serious economic challenges, and we are ready for this one too.”
Mr Flanagan said there would be further discussions with Ms Foster and Mr McGuinness and Northern Executive Ministers when the North South Ministerial Council meets in Dublin on Monday.
In relation to Sinn Féin calls for a referendum on a united Ireland the Minister said: “I believe a Border poll now would not only be unhelpful but would be damaging and divisive.”
