Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

When the British Government announced the possibility of rolling back on previous commitments surrounding the protocol it directly undermined not only political stability in the North but also Northern Ireland's economy at a time when we should be focused on getting the institutions back up and running and growing the island's economy.

I have heard the word trust mentioned here repeatedly. Trust is a precarious thing. It is earned and is not a given. Unilateralism directly undermines trust. Diminished trust and faith in our UK counterparts only serves to impinge potential progress on a breakthrough or potential solution. We have to acknowledge that there are genuine concerns around the protocol and we all need to challenge ourselves to come up, within the overarching protocol agreement, to find innovative, workable, common-sense solutions. Pragmatism must win out and common sense solutions must be sought out. Unilateral action does not contribute to solutions.

We in Ireland are lucky that our EU counterparts have stood by us in our dealings with the protocol and its implementation. Vice-President Šefčovič has indicated that he and his team are ready to deal with the UK at any time. He has indicated that he is open to discussing solutions and has stated that he sees further potential in exploring additional flexibilities around trade, customs and SPS arrangements, for example.

A joint EU-UK solution is the only resolution to this impasse, particularly in the areas around trade and to protect the Good Friday Agreement and its institutions. The protocol clearly recognises the constitutional position of Northern Ireland and the principle of consent under the agreement. In the immediate aftermath of the northern elections, it is clear a majority of MLAs support the protocol. We must now see an early resumption of the Executive in order to ensure an efficient application of the protocol's principles. Ultimately, any calls for reopening of negotiations around the protocol are unrealistic. Ireland continues to engage with EU partners and institutions and with all stakeholders on the island to work through the withdrawal agreement and the protocol itself.

Regarding the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, it is disappointing to see the UK Government introduce and press ahead with it despite the clear misgivings across all stakeholder groups. Government parties have been speaking to victim groups to hear their views. The message from those groups, which represent people affected by State-sponsored violence, is clear. They have fundamental concerns regarding the powers of the commission for information recovery, for example, and the status of the reviews proposed in the Bill. Last week, we marked the 48th anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, which was a reminder of the justice that was not served for all the families affected.

Cuirim fáilte freisin roimh an mBille teanga a bhí curtha síos i Westminister inniu. Bhí sé díomách le feiceáil go dtí seo go raibh cosc ar chur chun cinn an Bhille seo i Stormont ach anois, mar a bhí leagtha síos in óráid na banríona na seachtaine seo caite, tá Rialtas na Breataine féin chun an dlí seo a bhogadh ar aghaidh. Cabhróidh sé seo le fás na Gaolainne agus leis an meas atá uirthi sa Tuaisceart. Tá sé fíorthábhachtach go mbeidh an ceart sin ag daoine sa Tuaisceart ó thaobh a bhféiniúlachta féin a léiriú ina sochaí féin. Tá súil agam go gcabhróidh Rialtas na Breataine leis an mBille seo a chur ar aghaidh chomh luath agus is féidir.

Fianna Fáil's priority in regard to Northern Ireland is, and always has been, the protection of the Good Friday Agreement and its institutions. As a party of government, we need to support all parties in the North and work collaboratively with our British counterparts to ensure we have a functioning Executive. That is how it is supposed to work. Instead, alas, we see the UK Government acting unilaterally to introduce legislation that moves us away from this collaborative approach and away from the processes agreed under the Stormont House Agreement. It is my view and that of the Fianna Fáil Party that this is not in keeping with the spirit or motivations of the Good Friday Agreement. It is imperative that the Northern Ireland Assembly is resumed without delay. It is a sad reflection on any society when certain parties are intent on ignoring the democratic will of their citizens and are instead bent on institutionalising the political limbo and paralysis we are experiencing at present.

The rationale behind the Good Friday Agreement and the entire peace process was built on both Governments working together collaboratively with all parties in the North. The Government of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss is diverging from this approach, as evidenced in the legacy proposals and its attempt now to roll back on the protocol and disregard international, legally binding agreements. The role of the United States in all of this must be acknowledged. We met with a number of public representatives from that country in Leinster House yesterday, who remain steadfast in their support for Ireland, respecting the Good Friday Agreement and ensuring the implementation of the protocol proceeds.

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