Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá ábhair ghairide ar mhaith liom a lua inniu. The Leader will know, and I am sure she will agree, that in recent months there has been a lot of noise generated about the protocol. It is important to recentre ourselves and actually deal in facts and realities when it comes to the protocol and the protections and mitigations it offers this island and, specifically, to the North. As we know, there is no good Brexit but the protocol protects the all-island economy. It is timely that we consider having a range of statements from the Ministers on the roll-out of the protocol, its benefits including the positive impact it has on our economy, and the extent to which it protects people North and South. Notwithstanding what Senator Chambers said about the issues we may face with energy on this island, when we look across the water and see the unmitigated chaos there, I am sure even those most begrudging of the protocol would understand that it is the protections and mitigations of the protocol that are defending and protecting us from that chaos developing here.

We have seen impressive figures on the increase in North-South and South-North trade. In the first seven months of 2021, the Central Statistics Office stated that North-South trade increased by 60% and trade from the South to the North increased by 43%. I am sure the Leader will agree that they are some of the realities and, indeed, benefits of the protocol. It is appropriate that we hear from Ministers whose briefs relate to the protocol and that they come into the House to update us on its roll-out in the future.

I have submitted the following as a Commencement matter this week. I hope it is something the Leader will raise with Government colleagues. It was announced more than a week ago in the media that the Government plans to make the EU digital certificate available to fully vaccinated Irish passport holders in the North. It said an online portal for accessing that certificate would be available soon. There has been no further update forthcoming. As the Leader can imagine, when news like this finds its way into the public domain - not least in the context of the many entitlements, rights and protections we have lost in the North as a result Brexit - it would be good to get clarity on when and how we can avail of this. Perhaps the Leader will use her good office to encourage Government colleagues to get that message out there as soon as possible and to get it sorted.