McEntee and French counterpart visit border

Minister for European Affairs Helen McEntee today welcomed her French counterpart Minister Ameilie de Montchalin to the Irish border and to a dairy farm in the border area.  The visit was an opportunity to show Minister de Montchalin how the Irish border currently operates so seamlessly, both visually and practically.  
 
“Minister de Monchalin’s visit to the border is important.  It is yet again another show of support from our EU colleagues who want to understand and see first-hand how the Irish border works on a daily basis.
 
“The French Minister, herself from a large dairy farming background, specifically requested to visit a dairy farm near the border.  The Minister heard from a local farmer Gerard McArdle who runs a family run farm border area and representatives from Glanbia about how their farm works, in terms of supply chains and how a no-deal Brexit could severely impact on their business and livelihood. 
 
“The visit to the border and dairy farm, followed on from a bi-lateral visit held in Slane, the previous evening.  At that meeting both ministers discussed issues of mutual interest including, CAP, in the context of the next EU Budget; Mercosur, Climate Action and the completion of the Economic and Monetary Union
 
“Ireland continues to thank France and all of our EU colleagues for their total solidarity and support during the Brexit process. Both ministers reaffirmed their total support for the Withdrawal Agreement and the Backstop.

The visit followed a bi-lateral meeting held in Slane.