Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Ó Donnghaile for speaking and Senator Conway-Walsh for the amendment.We will, of course, co-operate with all Senators. Our priority and objective throughout the negotiations have been to try to ensure the status quowill continue. Everything we do is to that effect. That applies to industry and other sectors, in particular, the one that is most likely to be impacted on more than any other in the North and the South - agriculture. Any reciprocal arrangement in that sector between this state and Northern Ireland stems from the Good Friday Agreement and EU law. The UK Government has always indicated that it will try and will honour its obligations under the Good Friday Agreement. We expect it to do so, irrespective of whether there is a deal, and the arrangements under the agreement to continue post Brexit. However, if we consider the arrangements facilitated by EU law, in as much as possible and to the greatest extent possible, they will continue post Brexit. In the event that Northern Ireland changes its law post Brexit, it might not be necessary or possible to continue the existing arrangements, particularly if the new arrangements contravene EU law. In that instance, neither the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade nor any other Minister would be able to introduce orders that would contravene EU law or breach our obligations.

In the circumstances the proposed amendments should be withdrawn on the basis that accepting them could serve to confuse or mislead people outside the House and make them believe the Government would be able to act outside EU law. If and when the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will try to work closely with its counterpart in the United Kingdom, but the best and only way we see to address all of these concerns is by ratifying the withdrawal agreement to ensure an orderly withdrawal and that we will have the closest possible relationship, similar to the one we now have.