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

The only thing I would say to that is that the Deputy should not confuse diplomacy with weakness. We have got the results we have been looking for, by and large, through these Brexit negotiations. In terms of the Irish protocol, the protections of the Good Friday Agreement, the absolute assurance we have now in law to prevent Border infrastructure re-emerging on the island of Ireland, people predicted that many of those things could not be negotiated or happen. Sometimes a stand-off on something is not necessarily the best way to find a way forward that both sides can live with. Of course we think having an EU office in Belfast or somewhere in Northern Ireland makes absolute sense. We will try to find a way of getting that done. However, it is one of dozens of issues that need to be negotiated and agreed. It is important but it is not the most important issue. I do not want to create an issue and then get a result on that but actually lose on something much more important. We will work with Michel Barnier and his team strategically to try to get multiple things across the line over the next few weeks on the Irish protocol.

The most important thing in terms of the Irish protocol from my perspective is to see physical infrastructure being put in place in Belfast and Larne, in the ports. We know here the time it takes and the cost of putting infrastructure in Dublin Port and Rosslare Europort, as both Deputies from Wexford will know only too well. This is not done quickly. Recruiting sanitary and phytosanitary, SPS, inspectors, vets and customs officials to make sure that we can streamline checks that do not slow down traffic and all the rest of it takes time.

The protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland is a very complex protocol to implement and to ensure it functions in a way that does not disrupt trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, on which of course we do not want to have a negative impact, but it is also there to ensure that the EU is reassured that its Single Market is not seeing an unguarded back door opening through Northern Ireland. That is why an EU presence is necessary. Whether it is actually housed in Belfast or somewhere else is up for discussion and negotiation. This matter seems to have turned into a threat to sovereignty issue, almost, in London, that if there is an EU presence, somehow, the EU is telling us what to do. That is not what the EU is about here at all. The protocol is clear. This is to be implemented by the UK. It is also clear, however, that the EU is entitled to have a presence to ensure it is being done in a way that reassures everybody.

All I am saying is that there are many issues on which we will need to take a stand and find a way forward. Sometimes tough talk and creating defensive stand-offs on issues, particularly with this British Government, is perhaps not the best way to get it done.

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