Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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156. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he expects the joint consultative working group established upon the withdrawal of the UK from the EU to be fully established and meet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3017/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Joint Consultative Working Group is provided for under Article 15(1) of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland to the Withdrawal Agreement. The Working Group is to serve as a forum for the exchange of information and mutual consultation on the implementation of the Protocol.

The Protocol provides that the Working Group should comprise representatives of the EU and the UK and carry out its functions under the supervision of the Specialised Committee on issues related to the implementation of the Protocol.

The Working Group has no power to take binding decisions other than the power to adopt its own rules of procedure. It is expected to hold its first meeting in the coming weeks.