Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | 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.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | 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.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | 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.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The politics of Brexit are proving to be corrosive in the already sensitive situation in the North of Ireland, polarising opinion and increasing tensions. I reiterate that the protocol makes no change to the constitutional status of Northern Ireland. That is set down in the Good Friday Agreement. I want us to get to a place where the implementation of the protocol is fully realised in a way that works for Northern Ireland. There is an onus on all of us leaders and politicians to engage openly with citizens, businesses, politicians and community leaders on the protocol. We need to be clear and honest that the alternative to the protocol is not life as it was before Brexit but much deeper and more difficult disruption. There is no agreed alternative to the problems caused by Brexit on the island of Ireland. We spent four years going through those alternatives until we came to the protocol. It was the best available solution to those challenges, to which the UK and the European Union agreed.

Brexit has inevitably meant changes for businesses, sometimes difficult ones. However, there are some businesses in Northern Ireland that have no issues whatsoever with the protocol. Some major companies have examined its contents and adapted their business models. There are significant potential opportunities for Northern Ireland through the protocol, with open access to the rest of the UK internal market and to the entire EU Single Market. No industry is greater placed to avail of those opportunities than the Northern Ireland sausage industry because the biggest pork plant in Britain and Ireland is in Northern Ireland. For all this nonsense about a sausage war, there is massive production of it in North of Ireland. There is evidence of increased interest in Northern Ireland as an investment location but stability and certainty are needed to ensure this and realise that potential. We know that unilateral action on sensitive issues in the North of Ireland never works. The only sustainable approach to the current challenges requires the UK and the EU to work together to find pragmatic solutions. I urge all parties in this House to remain resolute in their support for this measured and calm approach, and I know they will do so. I also thank our EU colleagues for their continued engagement and solidarity on the detail of this issue.