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

I appreciate the Minister of State's clarity, not just in his response here this evening but also in the continued discussions and iterations from him and the Minister, Deputy Coveney, in such a calm, reasoned, sensible and realistic manner. Even though the G7 should have been talking about far weightier issues such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the climate emergency and vaccine solidarity across the world, I welcome the engagement of all G7 members on the legacy of Brexit and the importance of the Northern Ireland protocol.

One thing that is very important and which always bears repeating is that the British Government has ownership over this protocol. This is not a foreign construct or something being foisted upon the unionist community in Northern Ireland by the European Union or, indeed, by Irish Government Ministers here in Dublin. Ultimately, the problem here is not the protocol. The problem is Brexit. Brexit is causing all these problems and the protocol offers the easiest set of solutions. Every opportunity must be taken to engage North-South, east-west, across the European Union and across the global community, and to reiterate that there are solutions to the issues some people have with the protocol. Crucially, there are also opportunities for everyone on this island in this protocol. We need to dial down the rhetoric, engage with people and seriously address their realistic concerns. Some of the language chosen by certain people in the United Kingdom, Great Britain and Northern Ireland to describe Ministers in this Government has been absolutely disgraceful. I urge the Minister of State to use every effort to engage with our friends in London and clarify the very constructive and productive role the Irish Government has always played in this sorry Brexit process, as well as across the EU and across this island.

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