Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to raise this Topical Issue matter. I appreciate the opportunity given by the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, coming to the Chamber to take this Topical Issue matter. At the weekend, the world's eyes descended on a beautiful part of Cornwall, St. Ives, for the important G7 summit. It was the first G7 summit since the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic and the change of administration in the United States. It was an important change of administration which gave great hope to those of us who truly believe in multilateralism, international relations and common sense among liberal western democracies.

Sadly, the entire summit was overshadowed by the continuing failure of the British Government to implement the basic elements of the Northern Irish protocol in the withdrawal agreement, an agreement signed, ratified and introduced mere months ago. It was signed, ratified and introduced by this British Government. This British Government negotiated and ratified this protocol. This British Government won an 80-seat majority in its parliament on the back of this protocol.

However, this British Government has utterly failed to approach this in a sensible way. We approach another looming deadline. This entire sorry Brexit process has been punctuated by looming deadlines and cliff-edge moments. We see the British Government approaching the end of a grace period when it comes to chilled meats, among other things.

The approach has not been one of conciliatory measures, being proactive and productive or meeting responsibilities in their most basic form. Unfortunately, we have seen a British Government absolutely trash the protocol it negotiated, ratified and sought election on. What is even sadder is seeing the British Government minister who negotiated these Brexit agreements continue to undermine them in his own press, at parliamentary committees and among other leading politicians.

It is a worrying approach and it is a difficult approach for those of us in Ireland. There is no such thing as a good Brexit, but at least with the protocol and the trade and co-operation agreement, TCA, we can limit the worst damage.

However, the decision by this British Government to go for the hardest of Brexits has serious consequences for this island, North and South. The impact of those consequences has been largely offset by the protocol, but that protocol needs to be implemented. If there are difficulties in implementing it, we can address them. I, in no way, underestimate the displeasure, especially among the unionist community in Northern Ireland, with aspects of the protocol.

However, I also do not accept some of the exaggerated claims about the protocol. The supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland are not lying empty and the protocol is not responsible for riots in the street. It is, however, being used and abused by people across this island who should know better and who are responsible for dialling down the rhetoric.

People ask where we go from here and what the most obvious solution is. The obvious solution is, of course, a sanitary and phytosanitary, SPS, veterinary agreement between the EU and the UK, which would remove 85% of the necessary checks under the protocol. Brexit creates borders and checks and the protocol allows for very limited and minimal checks at the ports of entry into Northern Ireland. It also provides Northern Ireland with a great deal of opportunities and it is sad that only a very small minority of politicians in Northern Ireland have a forward-thinking approach to realising those opportunities. The question I am putting to the Minister of State this evening is how we ensure this protocol is implemented in a manner that protects Ireland, the European Union and the very fragile peace on this island.

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