Dr. Anthony Soares:

That article refers specifically to the function of the North-South Ministerial Council, NSMC, and the co-ordination between the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government in terms of consulting on EU matters. It has provided an opportunity for the two Governments, North and South, to strategically collaborate in terms of how they approach EU matters. It should not just be about EU funding but about influencing EU policy that will have a direct effect on the two parts of the island of Ireland. The UK's withdrawal from the EU will alter the operation of that part of the NSMC. It does not mean it becomes defunct or that the NSMC will no longer look at EU matters, it is just that the balance will be different. Of the two, the only Government represented at the EU will be the Irish Government. In some ways, as in a lot of other matters, there will be a lot of responsibility placed on the Irish Government because it will become a channel for Northern Ireland through to the European Union and former partners within the European Union. It places some responsibility on the Irish Government and creates some imbalance because only one side will have a presence in the EU when the NSMC is looking at EU matters. Uniquely within the European Union, Northern Ireland has a European Union special task force which is a direct channel between Belfast and Brussels. That will come to an end and the only direct channel will be through the Irish Government.