Minister McEntee attends historic Brexit summit in Brussels

Minister for EU Affairs and Meath East TD, Helen McEntee attended the historic EU summit this week in Brussels with an Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Leaders of the 27 remaining EU countries met with Theresa May to endorse the EU-UK withdrawal agreement and the joint political declaration. 

Speaking after the Summit Minister McEntee said: “Ireland and the EU are losing one of our closest allies and trading partners. Brexit is not our policy and it is a sad day that after 45 years the UK are leaving the European Union, a home that we both helped to build together. The deal endorsed by all EU 27 countries and the UK is to be welcomed. 

"It comes after almost two years of intensive negotiations and it is the only deal on the table. It will ensure that there will never be a return to a hard border on the island of Ireland; that the peace process is protected in all of its parts, that the Common Travel Area is maintained and that a transition period be implemented. In other words it will allow for an orderly Brexit and this will mean as little disruption as possible for businesses, farmers and the people of Meath. 

“This has been a key priority for the Irish Government however we are continuing our preparations for Brexit over the last period. There have been a number of Brexit seminars and information meetings held in Meath to date; with an additional one to be held this Thursday with Commissioner Phil Hogan in Tayto Park. We will continue to prepare for the UK’s exit. The UK is leaving the EU and inevitably this will bring about change but no matter what the outcome, it is important that Meath and Ireland is ready for that change, for our citizens and our businesses.”

The UK House of Commons and the EU Parliament will now need to ratify this agreement in order for it to come into effect next March when the UK officially leave the EU.