Addressing @FinancialTimes Brexit and Beyond Conference outlining Irish government perspective on #Brexit "Cross border trade represents the first export market for 73% for Northern Ireland's SME's. More than 7,000 business trade across the border supporting 160,000 jobs." 
"EU membership and the Good Friday Agreement have brought immeasurable benefits to the people of Ireland, North and South and help normalise relationships between the people across the island of Ireland. We want to ensure this is not impeded by #brexit."
"We welcomed the publication of the UK proposals last week on the Customs aspects of the withdrawal agreement. It is clear that further work is still required in particular on the regulatory alignment aspect in order to make progress needed on the backstop before EU Council."
"Ireland fully respects the decision of the British people to leave the EU; however, Ireland will not be joining the UK on that journey. Our future lies in Europe."
"The EU has just concluded a new trade deal with Mexico and negotiations with the Mercouser countries are ongoing. Negotiations with other partners, including Australia and New Zealand will commence in the near future."
"Ireland had had the fastest growing economy in the euro area for the last four years. The unemployment rate has fallen below 6% and there are over 2 million workers in the labour market. We have beaten our fiscal targets for 7 straight years."
"We have always said that a prosperous Britain is good for Ireland. We have a €65 billion per annum trading relationship which is vital to our economies. We are both each others suppliers and consumers."
