There were also many practical issues to consider for Ireland, Kenny said, pointing out that hundreds of thousands of Irish people living either side of the Irish Sea depended on the British economy for work.
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“We don’t even have the position of the United Kingdom”.
Ms Merkel made the remarks at a joint press conference with Taoiseach Enda Kenny at the German Chancellery in Berlin.
After Fine Gael backbencher Brendan Griffin broke ranks and demanded a new leader of the Republic by September, Mr Kenny insisted he had a mandate and a job to complete.
He said each minister has a brief and a set of commitments to follow through and that this should be where the focus lies.
“I don’t think they will be addressed as long as this uncertainty remains”. The 27 remaining EU member states would have to discuss the future of the union: “And here the Irish voice will be heard as well as all the others”.
“Of course I can not anticipate the outcome of the negotiations”. It is important that Ireland plays a part here and we will do so in a special friendship.
Merkel reiterated that it was now up to London to formally trigger Article 50 to leave the European Union following last month’s shock referendum backing a Brexit.
Mr Kenny will use the meeting to stress Ireland’s particular concerns in the discussions on the UK’s future relationship with the EU.
Enda Kenny has said he “has no intention of being diverted” from leading his country as pressure mounts on him to step down.
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He also refused to rule out pushing for a vote of no confidence in Mr Kenny.
