We’ll manage the challenge of Brexit, says Charlie Flanagan

The decision by the UK electorate to leave the EU was certainly not the result most of us here in Ireland had wanted. But we must respect their decision and work with it.

Ireland, the UK and the EU now face a period of great challenge. The Government has been working on contingency measures for some time. Considerable work has already been undertaken right across government to prepare a contingency framework to address the sectoral issues that will arise.

This contingency framework, a summary of which was published yesterday, is based on contributions from Government departments which identify the key strategic issues which now arise. This framework will ensure that the Government is able to focus on the key policy areas/issues to be addressed in the exit negotiations which will take place in the coming months. Priority issues identified include the UK-EU negotiations, bilateral British-Irish relations, Northern Ireland, trade, investment, North-South border impacts, competitiveness and macro–economic issues, research/innovation funding and energy.