Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is not something for which we are preparing within my own Department. The First Stage of the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill has been progressed. If it is implemented, we will find ourselves in a very challenging situation should the UK breach international law and an international agreement. We know that there are already checks on certain amounts of goods coming from the UK through Northern Ireland and into the South. That would not change even if the Bill were to be implemented. However, what is required under the Northern Ireland protocol is that additional checks be made to ensure the integrity of the internal market. It is not legislation that I am working on within my Department, but it is something that we will have to look at. There is an obligation, and I think we would all be very shocked and surprised if the UK were to breach the commitment it has made and its international obligations in this regard.