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00:00Two days of negotiations are about to begin. The relationship between Ireland and Britain. There's no irony lost here is that we're at the centenary year for Ireland's sort of relationship with the UK but I'm reading here. It could be the biggest banana skin for Ireland. If Cameron fails to convince us here in the UK to actually vote to stay in the EU banana skin and a threat to growth well we've taken the view all along that we want Britain to remain in the European Union because of the unique relationship between Britain and Ireland. Sixty five billion euros in trade last year the open border between north and south in Ireland and the fact that we like the way in which Britain contributes to the European Union alongside Ireland for the past 40 years. So it's good for us to have Britain alongside us and we would miss Britain from the European Year but we'd have to cope Of course if Britain were to decide to leave because that always is a matter for the British people to decide. You'd have to cope are you doing. It is on and doing contingency planning around what a Brexit would look like what it would do to the Irish economy. Of course that's one of the difficulties about this whole debate is that nobody can be sure what the polls Brexit world would look like. There are those who optimistically say that it would be much the same as it is now. My own view and our view was that there would be changes and those changes would be detrimental. Generally speaking to the European Union to British Irish relations and to Ireland . But that is a matter that can only be decided after a referendum but after Britain decides to leave and we very much hope Britain will not decide to leave but will continue the journey as partners within the EU with Ireland. Ambassador D Ireland support the main pillars that Cameron is trying to negotiate on in terms of sovereignty and I'm focusing in on that. The ever closer union Ireland has a very close relationship with the EU . Is Ireland fully behind all of these pillars of renegotiation for Cameron. Well because of our unique relationship with Britain because of our strong desire that Britain should stay in the European Union. We have naturally been among the more supportive of the member states around that table in Brussels . I would expect the same to be the case this evening. Of course we've had our issues of course we've had our concerns. Of course we've had to look at the implications of these proposals for Ireland. But I think in general we have been I continue to be quite supportive and we're optimistic and hopeful that there will be a positive outcome. That's in general. What about in specific because I know that one of the points of contention particularly Eastern Europe is around some of the migration issues and the benefits that would be payable to new arrivals from some of Eastern European countries. I think in Ireland's case because of the Common Travel Area the sense is that some of these new rules wouldn't apply to two Irish people coming to live in the UK. So what's Ireland's position then. Well of course Ireland has the same percentage of people born outside the state and our population as Britain has. But the issue of migration has not been a major public concern in Ireland. We have I think generally speaking dealt with fairly well despite the large numbers that came in after the accession of the member states from Central Eastern Europe. So that hasn't been a major issue that the issue of Irish people living in Britain that is of course something that predates the European Union by many years. And we have of course discussed this issue with the British government and depending on what the outcome of this whole process might be . Obviously it's a matter that will have to be continue. I would have to call you to discuss it with Britain and with other member states in order to ensure as far as possible that Irish people continue to enjoy the same advantages in Britain as they currently enjoy. Is that not guaranteed just yet. We don't know yet. Of course the outcome of these negotiations and is not known. So we don't know precisely and there's still some work to be done on the emergency brake on it. How exactly would operate its duration whether it would be available to all member states or not. So it's a complex area. I don't think you can give definitive answers at this stage while the negotiations are still under way. But we certainly have have it in mind and we have talked to Britain about it already and we will continue to discuss this issue because I think it's recognised on both sides . This is a particular issue which is a little bit separate from the issue of migration from other European countries which is a more recent phenomenon for Britain. Ambassador one of the most important issues is the bilateral trade relationship between the United Kingdom and Britain. One of the one of the issues is this that should any event this country vote for a Brexit that a free trade agreement needs to be arranged with Europe would Ireland consider. Would Ireland consider a bilateral trade agreement outside something that may go on with the rest of Europe or would they have to sit it out as aware and negotiate hard and long with the rest of Europe. Because I caught up with Martin Schulz. He's not a man for doing a trade agreement very easily or quick Well of course the Common Commercial Policy is one of the small number of areas of exclusive EU competence. So if Britain were to leave the European Union it would become a third country and therefore they would have to be a negotiation between the European Union and Britain. It wouldn't be between the 27 member states individually in Britain because that would then mean that the Common Commercial Policy would cease to be a reality. So it would be a negotiation and they would it would be done by the commission and it would have to be approved by the member states in council with a combination of qualified majority voting in some areas and indeed unanimity in others where there's unanimous requirement. So it would not be easy at all. And of course we would be looking to to try to have the best possible relationship with Britain in terms of its trade because of the importance of trade between the two countries . But we wouldn't have the say in this because we intend to remain within the European Union. And therefore we would be negotiating as part of the European Union and not individually with Britain. And Ambassador do you see. You say you'd survive if they were Brexit. What do you see opportunities for the financial services industry in Ireland perhaps for Ireland to attract even more investment than it already does for the US . Well there's no doubt that there would be some benefit in terms of companies moving to either but we're not focused on that because we've done our assessment we've done our analysis and we have come to the conclusion that the best possible outcome for Ireland would be for Britain to remain with Ireland within the European Union to continue that partnership that we've developed over the past 40 years which has been marvellous for British Irish relations and has enabled the two countries to work together very closely and to help to bring peace and stability to Northern Ireland .

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Ireland’s U.K. Envoy Says ‘Brexit’ Would be Bad For EU

David Cameron heads to Brussels Thursday seeking to finish off months of negotiations on new European Union membership terms with a deal that he can put to the British people. If he succeeds, he’ll fire the starting gun on a four-month referendum campaign intended to secure the U.K.’s place inside the bloc. Irish Ambassador to Great Britain Dan Mulhall discusses what it could mean for EU, U.K. and Irish relations with Bloomberg’s Manus Cranny and Anna Edwards on “Countdown.”

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