Meeting with Secretary of State Boris Johnson

QUESTION　



　
REPLY　



Question No. 227　
Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas　
　
To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his meeting with Secretary of State Boris Johnson on 17 November 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter.　
- Stephen S. Donnelly.　
* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 28th November, 2017.　
Ref No: 50050/17　

Question No. 238 　
Parliamentary Question - Oireachtas　　
　　
To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his recent meeting with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson; and if he will make a statement on the matter.　　
- Darragh O'Brien.　　
* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 28th November, 2017.　　
Ref No: 50370/17　


REPLY　


I propose to take questions no. 227 and 238 together.　
I welcomed UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson last week for his first visit to Ireland since being appointed to the position in July 2016. I also routinely meet the Foreign Secretary at meetings of Foreign Ministers in an EU context and internationally.　
Although the Foreign Secretary does not have lead responsibility for Brexit, the meeting provided a timely opportunity to exchange views on the ongoing Brexit negotiations. On Brexit, I underlined the need to ensure sufficient progress is made on all three exit issues in Phase 1 before discussions on a future relationship and any transitional arrangements can commence. I emphasised our desire for progress on Irish specific issues and on the need for the UK to provide strong political assurances and tangible commitments that recognise the unique circumstances of the island of Ireland. Ireland’s commitment to protecting the Good Friday Agreement, in all its parts, and the gains of the peace process remains clear. In this regard, I repeated the Government’s position that flexible and imaginative solutions are required.　
I also reiterated that Ireland is fully behind Michel Barnier and his team and that any decision on sufficient progress will be made together by the EU 27 Heads of State and Government.　
Ideas on a number of areas of mutual foreign policy interest, including the Middle East and Africa, were also shared. In addition, discussions focused on the strong British-Irish bilateral relationship and how this relationship can be strengthened into the future. 　
Ireland and the UK share many areas of mutual interest and concern and we will continue to work together on areas of commonality.