Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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66. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the ongoing discussions regarding possible changes to the Brexit protocol that can assist the movement of goods between the island of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. [4793/23]

Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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Will the Tánaiste advise regarding the ongoing new revised negotiations around the Brexit protocol in terms of the movement of goods on and off the island in respect of the preservation of the open Border?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have consistently heard in my engagements with business and people in Northern Ireland that resolving issues around the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a key priority for them. This is recognised by both the EU and the UK, which are devoting substantial time and effort to finding joint solutions that address these concerns.

European Commission Vice President Šefčovič met the UK Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in London on 9 January to take stock of this ongoing technical work. They also held a follow-up video call on 16 January. On 9 January, the EU and UK reached agreement on EU access to UK IT systems. Access to these data was a key issue for the EU in building trust and providing assurance. However, both sides also noted that a range of critical issues still need to be resolved. They agreed that their technical teams would work rapidly to scope the potential for solutions.

I have been clear in my engagements with my EU and UK counterparts that it is essential we give the teams space to try to find comprehensive joint solutions. The Government fully supports the approach led by Vice President Šefčovič. I met him most recently in Brussels on 10 January and continue to keep in close contact with him.

Agreeing shared solutions on the protocol will provide the certainty and stability that people and businesses in Northern Ireland need to take advantage of opportunities offered by the protocol, not least access to both the EU Single market and also the UK internal market, a combined market of more than half a billion people. More broadly, resolving the protocol issues will also open up opportunities for greater EU-UK co-operation, which is vital given the shared global challenges we face. I have been consistent in making the point that we should give space to the UK and EU teams to continue the discussions on the protocol in order, it is hoped, that they arrive at a satisfactory resolution to these issues.

Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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It is fair to say that the Northern Ireland protocol is being used for political leverage, specifically by the northern unionists, to seek concessions. It is also being used to stymie the resumption of the Northern Ireland Executive, which is holding up effective governance in the North of Ireland. This is especially noted with regard to the IMF announcement on the UK economy today. The Minister has answered part of my second question, which is whether the business community is being consulted widely about its ideas about what the softening of the protocol might mean and about the movement of goods.

On capital, is there any chance of extra infrastructural moneys coming from either the UK Government or possibly from Europe that could be made available to the Northern Ireland economy to act as an incentive to restore the power-sharing Executive?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy made some fair points in the latter part of his question. From the outset, we have acknowledged that issues have arisen in the operation of the protocol, particularly with regard to consumer goods. In my meetings with all political parties in Northern Ireland, including unionist parties, we have acknowledged that. I think Vice-President Šefčovič and the European Union have acknowledged it too. It is now a matter of the European Commission and UK Government seeing if they can resolve those issues. They are in discussions about that. The voice of business, particularly the business working group, has been heard. Over the last year, the Taoiseach and I have been in constant contact with the voice of business to understand its needs. We have highlighted its needs to the British Government in respect of certain legislative proposals that the British Government had because businesses have to make the operational details work on the ground in the end.

Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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We all agree that the resumption of the Executive is needed to offer hope and better governance and administration of the Northern Ireland budget and economy. What might be on offer in the shared island initiative? When I look at Derry, I see many similarities with my own city of Waterford. That city has suffered from a lack of per capitaresourcing for its university and hospital, which is similar to Waterford. It aligns with the experience of Waterford, which has suffered because of political strategies, the interests of Dublin and the temporary government in Cork, which has denied resourcing to Waterford, the south east and the wider region. Why should Derry should consider that its place would be any better in a shared island initiative as it looks at the Government's continuing failure to provide per capitaresourcing to Waterford and the south east?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have been to Derry in the context of the shared island initiative over the last two and a half years. People there are pleased with the shared island initiative. The North West Strategic Growth Partnership is particularly pleased. It involves all of the councils in the north west working together in harmony by leaving politics and party politics outside the door to advance the cause of the region. The A5 is in a public inquiry process. The most submissions on the all-island rail strategy came from the north west because connectivity is a significant issue for the north west. We said to the university, particularly the Magee Campus, that we are awaiting proposals on the shared island initiative. It has submitted proposals and we have supported projects in the north west, particularly relating to research. Over €40 million has been allocated to research proposals on the island of Ireland through the shared island initiative. We stand ready to do more.