Ireland's Ambassador to the UK has said that achieving a "seamless and frictionless" border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland post-Brexit will not be straightforward.
However, Dan Mulhall said the Government has been working to sensitise EU partners about the special situation in which Ireland finds itself as the only country to share a land border with the UK.
Ambassador Mulhall made the remarks during evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee in Westminster this morning.
He said that there had been discussion between the Government and the European Commission, as well as between the Irish and British governments, on the issue of the border.
Mr Mulhall said the issue of customs would be complex since no one was yet sure what kind of customs regime will emerge from the Brexit negotiations.
He said European Union negotiations are complex and take time but believes there is a capacity to reach agreement on all sides.
The ambassador said that the aim of the Government was to minimise any negative impact of the UK's exit on Ireland and the North-South relationship.
He said Ireland was also keen to benefit from any upsides there might be to the situation, including the possibility of attracting some economic activity which might need to find a place outside of the UK after Brexit.
Mr Mulhall welcomed the fact that maintaining the Common Travel Area was one of the key objectives set out by Prime Minister Theresa May in her recent keynote speech on Brexit in Lancaster House.
But the key vote tonight is expected to cause more problems for Labour than the government as Jeremy Corbyn struggles to contain a revolt in his party ranks.
