Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Tony Lloyd and Andrew Rosindell

Wednesday 7th February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Tony Lloyd (Rochdale) (Lab)]

6. What discussions she has had with the Irish Government on maintaining a frictionless border on the island of Ireland.

[Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)]

11. What assessment she has made of progress on maintaining a seamless border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after the UK leaves the EU.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr Shailesh Vara)]

We speak regularly with our counterparts in the Irish Government on a range of issues. In the joint report agreed with the EU at the December European Council, we reached an agreement that will maintain the common travel area. We also agreed that any future arrangements agreed between the UK and the EU must be compatible with the UK Government’s commitment to avoiding any physical infrastructure on the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. We will continue working closely with the Commission to agree a legally binding text for the commitments made in December.