German chancellor Angela Merkel was non-committal over the State's Brexit concerns following talks with Taoiseach Enda Kenny in Berlin, saying that Dublin's voice will be heard "as much as anyone else's" in the upcoming talks between the EU and London.
In a joint press conference following the meeting, Mr Kenny said he underlined what he views as the Republic’s special circumstances in the upcoming talks - in particular the close political and economic ties between the UK and the State.
However, he said it was hard to know how to proceed until London said what it wanted from the EU following the UK’s vote to leave the bloc.
Dr Merkel said that concerns over preserving the common travel area between the UK and the Republic - in place since the 1920s - were “clearly profound”.
However, when asked about whether the State’s special circumstances would carry extra weight in Brexit negotiations, Dr Merkel said she “couldn’t pre-empt the result of the talks”.
“Ireland’s voice will be heard as much as anyone else’s,” Ms Merkel said. “The details will have to be clarified.”
Mr Kenny emphasised at the press conference that the State would remain a full member of the EU and that the Government had no interest in a hard Border running from Dundalk to Derry.
“The outcome is unknown until we know what Britain wants and what it might mean,” he said.
Mr Kenny also welcomed the expedited Tory leadership election and tomorrow's swearing in of Theresa May as British prime minister.
Kenny’s future
When asked about his future as Taoiseach, Mr Kenny said the Government was now in place, with every Minister working on their brief.
“What I am interested in is that Ministers have time to bed themselves down to do departmental work . . . to move the country forward,” he said.
“My focus is entirely on the future and in making this happen, we have a great deal of work ahead and I would like to think that people will concentrate on that.”
The State sees Germany, along with states such as Sweden and the Netherlands, as allies in pushing back against pressure from other member states for either renewed integration or a loosening of ties between EU states in response to the British referendum result.
In Brexit discussions with other EU states, Dublin has made clear its concerns about potential implications for the common travel area, the Border and the peace process.
“We need to know what their ask is,” said a senior Irish official, referring to the UK side. “Only they know what they’re going to do next.”
As part of the discussions, Italian minister for foreign affairs Paolo Gentiloni will meet Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan in Dublin on Tuesday, while French president Francois Hollande is due to visit Ireland next week.
