Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Richmond as an ábhar tábhachtach seo a ardú anocht. The protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland is a joint solution by the United Kingdom and the European Union to the serious challenges raised by Brexit on the island of Ireland. The agreement took more than four years of negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union, exploring all the other options and ruling them out. The UK and the EU together found and agreed a solution, which was the protocol. It was a joint effort by the EU and the UK and so its implementation must also be joint. In that regard, the UK must show a commitment to delivery and to working alongside the EU.

Notwithstanding the many challenges we face, large parts of the protocol are being implemented and the sky has not fallen in. Last week, a meeting of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee took place, offering an opportunity for the EU and the UK, working together, to take stock of progress in the implementation of the protocol to date and to consider ongoing challenges. Engagement at official level to try to find solutions to the outstanding issues is continuing and we fully support and encourage those efforts. It is worth remembering that a majority of elected members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and a majority of the elected MPs in the House of Commons from Northern Ireland supported the protocol and continue to do so. Quite frankly, that is not a narrative we hear in the British media.

In recent days, G7 leaders made clear to the UK Government their concerns around the implementation of the protocol, the peace process and political stability in Northern Ireland. A small country like Ireland was present at the G7 because the European Union, through the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, was there representing all of us. That is the power the European Union gives to all of us, and to small member states in particular. Further UK unilateral actions without consultation and agreement would be problematic and damaging to the technical efforts that are under way to agree further flexibilities. We need to have genuine partnership and to work in problem-solving mode for the benefit of all the people of Northern Ireland, not just those of a particular viewpoint. There has to be compromise and the protocol is the compromise. The European Union has shown time and again that it is a willing partner. The UK must show its willingness by honouring the commitments to which it has already signed up, which it negotiated, agreed and voted through its parliament, and it must solve challenges in good faith.

An SPS agreement, as Deputy Richmond said, would be a pragmatic way forward, even on a temporary basis, and would create the space for longer-term arrangements to bed down. This would immediately reduce the level of checks on agrifood products by up to 80%. We have heard from people right across the political, business and farming sectors that they want such an agreement. It would be simple, concrete and popular. President Biden has been clear, as was I in my media engagements last week, that such an agreement would not stand in the way of a UK-US trade deal.

The protocol has never disrupted the supply of medicines and the EU will ensure there will be no disruption to the supply of medicines in Northern Ireland. We will continue to look for flexibility in order that the negative impacts of Brexit on the people of Northern Ireland are minimised. That is what the protocol is about. I had engagements last week in Slovenia and Austria and I saw the EU's solidarity and unity on this issue, which for so long has been a mark of the EU's approach to Brexit. The same holds for this Oireachtas. Across all parties we have been united in support of the protocol, the majority united on Northern Ireland, and we have engaged in detailed implementation. We will be calm, measured and united in our approach.

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