Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ar dtús báire, déanaim comhghairdeas le Príomh-Aire nua na Breataine, Rishi Sunak, as é a bheith tofa mar phríomh-aire. Guím gach rath air agus é ag obair ar son mhuintir na Breataine. Beidh mé ag caint leis níos déanaí, mar a luaigh an Teachta, agus inseoidh mé dó go bhfuil géarghá ann anois le tús a chur le cainteanna substaintiúla idir an tAontas Eorpach agus Rialtas na Breataine agus, mar aon leis sin, go bhfuil géarghá anois le hinstitiúidí an Tuaiscirt a thabhairt ar ais chomh luath agus is féidir - láithreach i ndáiríre.

First of all, I congratulate the new British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, on his election. I look forward to having the opportunity to engage with him later today. What has sustained this House over the last difficult period since Brexit happened has been the unity of purpose in Ireland's fundamental aims and objectives. We were never supporters of Brexit, but we respect the decision of the British people to leave the European Union. The issues that have arisen from that decision have clearly not been resolved, namely, the relationship between Britain and the European Union, the British-Irish relationship and, more specifically, the continuation of the trading relationship between Europe and Britain and how that impacts on Northern Ireland. The protocol was designed to deal with that trading relationship. From my engagement with industry and businesses in Northern Ireland, particularly in manufacturing and the food industry, they have said the protocol has been very beneficial. In fact, the food industry has said the legislation that is going through the House of Lords at the moment would be injurious to it, given the dual regulatory framework of that legislation. It would disrupt the integrity of the food chain from beginning to the end, onto the market, and could have very serious consequences for the food industry. I said that to the previous Primer Minister, Liz Truss, who, to be fair, did indicate to me a resolve to get these issues decided between Europe and Britain through negotiation. I hope the new Prime Minister will equally believe in that idea that negotiation is the preferred option in resolving the issues around the protocol. Europe stands ready. I have had regular engagement with President von der Leyen and with Vice President Šefčovič. I am in no doubt that Europe stands ready to be flexible in all matters pertaining to the protocol, and in the context of the geopolitical difficulties that we are facing across Europe, with the first war on the Continent of Europe since the Second World War, the need for like-minded countries, such as the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States, Canada, Japan and so forth, to be together in dealing with that issue. That really puts the issue of the protocol, and the necessity to get it resolved, into context.

I have made it clear to the DUP that the party should come back into the assembly and facilitate the restoration of the assembly and the Executive. It is a denial of democracy not to do so. I have been very consistent, since the election, that the results of the election should be vindicated. The people have voted and the results should be reflected in the composition of the Executive, the positions of First Minister and deputy First Minister, and the operation of the assembly. I have held that position for a long time. In previous periods when the Executive was taken down or stopped meeting for various reasons, I called it out then just as I call it out now. When people elect their representatives, they expect their parliament to be elected. On what happens in the event of no restoration, the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference kicks in. The Good Friday Agreement provides for meetings of that group, with close consultation with the Irish Government in matters pertaining to Northern Ireland. I will come back in on the supplementary.

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