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Taoiseach meets Chancellor Merkel during trade mission to Germany
Taoiseach Enda Kenny with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin
Taoiseach Enda Kenny led a trade mission to Germany today and had a bilateral meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as extensive engagements with key trade, tourism and investment partners.
Discussions between the two leaders focused on Brexit, as well as the future direction of the European Union, and international relations more broadly. The Government's intensive programme of strategic engagement with EU partners and the EU institutions over recent months has ensured a good understanding of Ireland's unique concerns arising from Brexit. The two leaders also exchanged views on the negotiating process ahead and how best to work together, as part of the EU team, on a range of issues.
Chancellor Merkel signalled German support for Irish objectives in the Brexit negotiations.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said:
This is a political problem and we will have to be both creative and imaginative in dealing with it. Whatever is agreed must be compatible with European Union Law.
We must not get lost in the technical detail and lose sight of the principal objective of maintaining peace.