Dublin: Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said Wednesday he expected his British counterpart Theresa May to begin the formal process of leaving the European Union at the end of January or in early February next year.
"It is strictly a matter for the prime minister but it is my impression from discussions is that it will happen sometime toward the end of January or early February," he said.
Speaking to reporters in Dublin ahead of the resumption of parliament next week, Kenny said the indications had come in separate meetings held recently in Dublin with UK Secretary of State for Exiting the EU David Davis and Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire.
He added that Irish finance minister Michael Noonan will meet his British counterpart Philip Hammond in London on Thursday as Ireland is the EU member most-affected by Britain's decision to leave.
Kenny's remarks echo those of European Union president Donald Tusk, who also said at last week's EU summit that he expected formal talks would begin early next year based on conversations he had had with the UK prime minister.
However, a British government source in response to Tusk said that May did not mention a specific time frame during discussions the previous week and that the comments were based on an interpretation of the conversation.
The British government has so far declined to declare when it will trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, so beginning the formal process of leaving the EU following the referendum vote on June 23.
