Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The publication of the draft withdrawal agreement last Wednesday marked an important milestone in the Brexit process. The 585 page document represents the potential for a deal, but we are not yet there. It must be ratified at EU level and also at Westminster, a part of the process that no one is taking for granted. There is no such thing as a good Brexit, but this deal will be positive for Ireland if it is settled. It contains the necessary protections to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, respects the status of the Good Friday Agreement and works to address the continuance of North-South co-operation.

I acknowledge the good work done by our own team - the Tánaiste, the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, our diplomats and civil servants - in getting us to where we are. We have a draft withdrawal treaty text on the table and it has taken us two years to get here. I also acknowledge the hard work done by Michel Barnier and his team who negotiated on behalf of the EU 27 block, ensured the Irish issues were to the fore and that our concerns, particularly about the Border, were addressed. We know that at times pressure was applied from other quarters to try to shift the focus away from the Border issue, but Mr. Barnier and his team never wavered on the issue and there was no chink in the armour to be exploited.

This is the best and fairest deal that could have been negotiated and there is no room to reopen or revisit what has been agreed to by both teams. The European Union made a considerable concession on the Northern Ireland protocol, the backstop, by agreeing to a UK-wide customs territory. When the idea was first mooted, it was rejected by the European Union and caused concern among some member states who wanted to ensure the United Kingdom would not have a competitive advantage post-Brexit and that we would all be operating on a level playing field. Nonetheless, this compromise was offered by the European Union and it demonstrates its genuine and sincere wish to forge a new relationship with the United Kingdom and secure a Brexit deal that will work for everyone.

One of the most important aspects of the Northern Ireland protocol is the commitment in black and white to the Good Friday Agreement. The very first line of Article 1 of the protocol reads: "This Protocol is without prejudice to the provisions of the 1998 Agreement regarding the constitutional status of Northern Ireland and the principle of consent, which provides that any change in that status can only be made with the consent of the majority of its people". That could not be clearer. The withdrawal treaty is not a back-door grab for territory. Nothing within the agreement seeks to undermine the Good Friday Agreement or in any way alter the constitutional position of the United Kingdom. That is a really important message to impress on the unionist community in Northern Ireland who are an important part of this all-island community. Under the terms of the deal, should the Northern Ireland protocol, the backstop, ever kick into action, Northern Ireland will retain the economic benefits of EU membership, while also retaining unfettered access to the UK market. That is a good outcome for Northern Ireland and broadly in line with my party's call that Northern Ireland be treated as a special economic zone.

There is also sensible provision made for the potential extension of the transition period post-2020. Article 3 recognises the monumental task which lies ahead, beyond ratification of the withdrawal treaty, that is, the negotiation of a future trading agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom. When one considers that it took nine years to negotiate and ratify the deal between the European Union and Canada, it is very ambitious to expect that a deal can be concluded between the United Kingdom and the European Union in just 20 months; therefore, this article is welcome.

I wish to refer briefly to Article 18 which states: "If the application of this Protocol leads to serious economic, societal or environmental difficulties liable to persist, or to diversion of trade, the Union or the United Kingdom may unilaterally take appropriate measures". I acknowledge the assurances the Tánaiste has given me in respect of the article, but it is important to flag it. The treaty must withstand the inevitable changes in personnel across governments over time. We need to ensure this provision will never be abused.

An EU summit has been set for 25 November, but the resignations from the UK Government and the lack of support for the agreement from the Labour Party, the DUP and within the Conservative Party underscore the very difficult task ahead for the British Prime Minister. At this point the outcome is uncertain, but it is essential that calm prevail and that every effort be made to advocate for the deal to try to get it across the line. My party will do everything it can to advocate that it be ratified.

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