The acting Minister for Foreign affairs will meet with his UK counterpart to discuss a possible British exit today.

Charlie Flanagan is meeting Philip Hammond in London their vote on EU membership in June.

The two foreign secretaries will discuss several areas of concern facing Europe, The UK and Ireland including refugees, security and sovereignty - all of which form part of the debate in the UK about EU membership ahead of the June 23rd referendum there.

One of the Irish government's biggest fears is the impact on the 62 billion euro trade partnership that exists between the two country's which could be negatively affected should the British public decide to leave the EU.

Also a concern is the impact on Northern Ireland.

In the UK, David Cameron has claimed leaving the EU would be an "act of economic and political self-harm".

Writing in this morning's Telegraph, the British Prime Minister says exiting the single market would be "needless and reckless" and wouldn't help the UK steel industry.

Vote Leave has responded by saying Britain's greatest act of economic self-harm involves sending 350 million pounds to Brussels every week.