Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. The first judgment call that the Irish Government and the EU collectively have to make is on whether the Boris Johnson Government wants a deal and what the evidence, language, conversations and phone calls between Dublin and London suggest. My judgment is that Boris Johnson does want a deal and that the paper published yesterday was an effort to move us in the direction of a deal. However, I agree with the Deputy that, if it is the final proposal, there will be no deal. There are a number of fundamental problems with the proposal.

It is also true to say, though, that there is a progression towards the space where we need to be in terms of other elements of the proposal. We have moved from a verbal commitment regarding an all-island approach to agrifood and sanitary and phytosanitary, SPS, conditions towards a written commitment, with a legal text behind it, to all-island alignment with the rules of the Single Market in respect of all goods, including agriculture. That is a good thing and we need to recognise progress, since it is difficult to find progress at the moment.

As I pointed out to Deputy Calleary, elements of this proposal simply will not be part of any final deal. Of the two most obvious ones, first is the approach to customs, which we believe does not work from a technical and legal operability perspective. However, we will test it more fully with the task force in the coming days. Second is the issue that has been referred to in London as "consent", but whether it is consultation or a role for an Executive in Northern Ireland in terms of how proposals are implemented, we cannot support any proposal that essentially suggests that a minority will determine what the majority has to live with. It is just not going to work. If that is the proposal, it will be very difficult to get an Executive up and running. Why would other parties buy into an Executive if they believed it could essentially prevent solutions linked to Brexit?

These are serious issues that we need to deal with in a serious, calm and competent way through the EU task force and direct conversations with our counterparts in the UK. I will be in Belfast tomorrow meeting the Secretary of State, Mr. Julian Smith, and I am sure that we will have discussions around this space. It is important that we be clear, calm and respectful, but also honest about what is possible and what is not. There is no point in having a series of proposals, even if they all make sense and work, if they can essentially be vetoed by a minority or one party in Northern Ireland to the frustration of the majority.

We have heard what business leaders are saying across the spectrum in Northern Ireland. There is deep frustration. They want solutions that work and on which they can rely. That is what we are looking for, too. Even though yesterday's proposals are not the basis for a final deal or agreement, I hope that they are the basis for a serious discussion and negotiation that can progress those proposals into a landing zone that might work for everyone.

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