EU Exit Negotiations Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

EU Exit Negotiations

Albert Owen Excerpts
Monday 15th October 2018

(6 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait The Prime Minister
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As I said earlier, a number of comments have been made about issues relating to the border and the possibility of technical solutions. We have made it very clear to the European Union—including, obviously, Michel Barnier—that any suggestion that there should be a customs border down the Irish sea is one that this Government cannot accept.

Albert Owen Portrait Albert Owen (Ynys Môn) (Lab)
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The Republic of Ireland is the main trading link with the United Kingdom, through the port of Holyhead in my constituency. I have been raising this issue with the Prime Minister for the last 18 months. Businesses are worried because contingency plans have been undertaken by Irish companies to go directly to the European continent. What assurances can the Prime Minister give to businesses in my community that that will not happen?

Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait The Prime Minister
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We continue to negotiate in relation to our future economic partnership. We have put forward proposals that would enable that frictionless trade to continue to take place across the sea between the hon. Gentleman’s constituents and Ireland. We continue to work on those proposals, and we are making good progress on that future relationship.