Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The talks on a free trade agreement between the EU and the UK continue. As we have heard, the President of the European Commission stated this morning that there is now a path to an agreement. The path may be very narrow but it is there, and it is therefore our responsibility to continue trying. The British Prime Minister also told the House of Commons this morning that he hopes the EU bloc will "see sense" and do a deal. We would say the same about him.

In the past few days all sorts of new issues have arisen. We have been told that the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, tried to tear up the rule-book and negotiate bilaterally with France and Germany. It was a good try, but that was something to which the EU was never going to agree. We were told that negotiations might not conclude before the end of this month, leaving everyone, including the European Parliament, in limbo for the first few weeks of January. We were told that 97% of the deal has been agreed and that the issues in dispute remain the same; the level playing field, fair competition, governance and fisheries.

Before dealing with these issues I wish to say a few words about the Northern Ireland protocol. As we know, agreement has been reached between Michael Gove, MP, and Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič on the implementation of this protocol. The offending clauses of the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill 2019-21 have been withdrawn. As a result, Northern Ireland will effectively remain in the Single Market and customs union and EU rules will prevail as regards food and agricultural produce generally. In addition, Northern Ireland producers will have tariff-free and quota-free access to the EU market. This is good news for Northern Ireland producers and producers on this side of the Border. It certainly has implications for unionism and the future of the union itself, but that is a matter for another day to which I will return at a later stage. What has been achieved is a triumph of Irish diplomacy and should be acknowledged as such.

Regarding the level playing field and fair competition, the EU is right to insist on common high standards. Globally, the EU has been at the forefront of bringing about high social, employment and environmental standards, climate change measures, fair competition regarding state aid, various taxation initiatives and high consumer standards. A non-regression clause, whereby standards in existence in the UK as of 31 December 2020 remain in place, would be sensible. However, the EU will inevitably move on in these areas, and it will always be ambitious. A ratchet clause, whereby the EU could impose tariffs on UK goods if any increased standards are not met, would also make sense.

It is best, however, to leave those issues to the negotiators, and I wish them well in their endeavours.

As for fisheries, the British Government's decision to have Royal Navy gunboats on standby to protect UK fishing waters in the event of no deal is a little disturbing. It is a throwback to the middle of the last century, when the world was made up of nation states which were often in conflict with one another. Britain talks about sovereignty and taking back sovereignty but has failed to realise, or does not want to realise, that we now live in an interdependent world in which multilateral diplomacy prevails and nation states agree that pooling sovereignty is in their best interests. I note that Commission President von der Leyen said this morning that, in all honesty, it may not be possible to get agreement on the fisheries issue. That is something to be concerned about.

I am pleased that the German Council Presidency has brokered a deal to resolve the impasse in respect of the multi-annual financial framework and the €750 billion Covid recovery fund. Poland and Hungary have removed their threat to veto the deal. No doubt their antics will come back to haunt them at some stage in future negotiations. This deal must not result in any diminishing of the EU's resolve to deal with rule-of-law issues in these countries. Separately, I ask the Taoiseach and the Government to come forward with more information as to how Ireland will access the EU Covid recovery fund. Work is continuing in this area, and we need to receive details on this as soon as possible.

Like other speakers, I welcome the agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 55% before 2030.

The Government was wise to base budget 2021 on a no-deal Brexit. I note that a €5 billion support fund for sectors worst hit by Brexit has been established. Irish food and dairy exporters could certainly tap into this fund. I understand that the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, is working on a package, having regard to the final outcome when it becomes available. We need to see the details of that as soon as possible.

Consumers also need to be aware of Brexit. It could lead to higher prices and difficulties with online shopping, delivery delays and the availability of products in our supermarkets. Consumers will have to be prepared for this, and every effort should be made to promote Irish and EU products in this context such that work in that regard can continue.

I noted what the Taoiseach had to say about Covid-19 vaccines, in particular the availability of these vaccines throughout the world, especially in poorer countries. EU leaders, I understand, also discussed the global efforts against the pandemic and restated that the EU will continue to contribute to the international response, including via a COVAX facility for guaranteeing affordable and fair access to vaccines for all. I think Irish people would agree with that, having regard to our philosophy of promoting human rights throughout the world, and I welcome the European Council's decision in that regard.

I also note that the Council spoke at its meeting about EU-US relations. The EU, I understand, looks forward to working together with the United States to reinforce the global fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, tackle climate change, enhance the economic recovery, co-operate on digital and technological matters, strengthen mutual trade, address trade disputes, reform the World Trade Organization and promote multilateralism as well as peace and security. That is certainly a change. We look forward to the incoming United States Presidency. When I say it is a change, I mean it is a change from the point of view of the United States. I look forward to developing all these concepts in the new world order, so to speak, as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take up office.

The Council has a long meeting, and a lot of issues were discussed, but there was generally an acceptable outcome to its deliberations.

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