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Minister Mitchell O’Connor travels to London for meetings with her UK counterparts
Minister Mary Mitchell O’ConnorT.D. will visit London today Wednesday, 2nd November for a series of meetings with her UK ministerial counterparts, Secretary of State for International Trade, Liam Fox MP, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy, Climate Change and Industrial Strategy, Greg Clark, MP and the Minister of State for Energy and Intellectual Property, Baroness Lucy Neville Rolfe, M.P.
During these meetings, Minister Mitchell O’Connor will set out the importance of the Ireland/UK bilateral economic relationship, the significance of the impact on Ireland of the UK’s referendum decision, and convey the unique nature of Ireland’s position in regard to the direct effect of the UK’s exit from the EU. The Minister said “it is crucial that the UK cabinet fully appreciate the potential impacts for Ireland and especially North/South economic relations, before any detailed negotiation process commences”.
Minister Mitchell O’Connor will also discuss important Trade and Single Market issues, including EU bilateral trade negotiations such as the recently signed EU-Canada trade agreement (CETA), progress on multilateral trade issues including the WTO Environmental Goods Agreement and the Commission’s initiatives to achieve progress on strengthening Europe’s Single Market. The Minister will also underline Ireland’s support for the EU’s competitiveness and trade agendas given their key role in regard to job creation and the provision of new and improved market access opportunities for Irish exporters.
Minister Mitchell O’Connor said she will “emphasise the importance of the Brexit negotiations taking full account of the impact on Ireland in relation to the economic and employment context, our desire to avoid the introduction of customs or trade barriers, the competitiveness challenge, and our ability to sustain engagement in research cooperation, including under EU funding programmes.”
Note for Editors
The Minister met with Lord Price, the UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment in Dublin on 1st November. The Ministers discussed issues of common interest in advance of the meeting of EU Trade ministers in Brussels on 11 November.