Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has reiterated the government’s determination to protect the Common Travel Area and "protect the free movement of people and the mutually beneficial flow of students, staff and researchers."
In a wide ranging speech at the Trinity 425 Symposium this evening Mr Varadkar said this determination was rooted in the reality that Brexit has the potential to affect every sector of education on this island.
"Yesterday I met once again with Prime Minister May and among the issues discussed was how Brexit might affect the strong research and teaching links that exist between our two countries.
"Our position is that we would like to see the Common Travel Area maintained, protecting the free movement of people and the mutually beneficial flow of students, staff and researchers. We want to see continued UK/Ireland research collaborations.
"Later this week, I shall meet with 20 other EU prime ministers in Talinn at the Digital Summit to discuss similar themes."
Mr Varadkar said now, more than ever, the island of Ireland needed bridges not borders.
"We will support higher education in its efforts to ensure that students continue to travel between north and south to study, because the best way of uniting hearts on this island, is by encouraging the best young minds to learn about and from each other.
"All of these issues are part of our approach to the Brexit discussions and negotiations, and I can assure you of our commitment to ensuring that you do not lose out."
In his speech Mr Varadkar also reinforced his belief that access to higher education should be available to all individuals "independent of socio-economic background, gender, geography, disability or other personal circumstance".
He went on: "It should depend on your ability, your initiative, your work ethic, and your innate potential, not your parents or postcode.
"Ministers Mitchell O’Connor and Bruton are actively engaged in this area, and we are determined to work towards building a Republic where every person can reach their potential, and every child has the opportunity to grow up to be the person they can be. What better place to start than by guaranteeing equality of opportunity in education?"