Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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340. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the comments of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on ruling out special status for Northern Ireland in view of the fact that it would weaken its position within the United Kingdom. [5894/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Protecting the peace process and Northern Ireland is one of the Government’s four headline priorities in dealing with the UK decision to leave the European Union. The Government has made clear that we will be working for special arrangements which take account of Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances. Our priority is to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement and the overall balance of the settlement is not in any way disturbed by the UK’s exit from the European Union and of course to maintain the open border on the island of Ireland and the Common Travel Area. The hard-won peace on the island must be protected.

The established framework for all engagement on Northern Ireland is the Good Friday Agreement. This has been strongly reaffirmed by the Government and the British Government following the UK decision to leave the European Union. The Good Friday Agreement is an international treaty, registered with the United Nations and it provides for a unique political and constitutional settlement in Northern Ireland, which is the foundation of the peace process. This is something the European Union as a whole has long recognised and supported. From my engagement with all of my EU counterparts, as well as with the EU institutions, most notably my recent discussions with Michel Barnier, Chair of the European Commission Taskforce on Brexit, and Guy Verhofstadt, Brexit lead for the European Parliament, there is deep appreciation of the EU’s role and contribution in support of the peace process and a wish to continue that support, regardless of the challenges and impacts of Brexit.

At their meeting in Dublin on 30 January, The Taoiseach discussed with Prime Minister May the serious implications of Brexit for Northern Ireland and the imperative of retaining the open border on the island of Ireland. There will be a need for the British Government to reflect the unique challenges Brexit poses for Northern Ireland in the position they adopt in the negotiations with the EU27. I reinforced this message in my meeting with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire in our meeting on 14 February.

The UK’s exit from the EU will be a complex and lengthy political negotiation, involving all EU Member States and EU institutions as appropriate. The Government’s focus in relation to Northern Ireland is the substantive outcome on each of the key issues, rather than the label ascribed to the overall package. The Government will maintain its focus on pursuit of specific, effective, and realisable measures that address each of the issues of concern under Brexit. We will continue to do this in cooperation with our European partners and as a clear and committed EU Member State, as the best means of protecting the interests of all of the people on the island.

The Government has been clear that there are entirely unique circumstances in respect of the island of Ireland that must be taken account of in the negotiations for the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union and the future EU-UK relationship. The Good Friday Agreement, an international treaty, registered with the United Nations, provides for a unique political and constitutional settlement in Northern Ireland, which is the foundation of the peace process.

It is worth recalling that the Good Friday Agreement recognises the “birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both”. This means that virtually everyone born in Northern Ireland can of right choose to be an Irish citizen, and therefore a citizen of the European Union, with all of the attendant rights and obligations of both. There is no parallel for this anywhere in Europe – a point I have been highlighting to all my EU foreign ministerial colleagues. The Agreement also contains very important provisions on the constitutional status of Northern Ireland. The Government has been clear that Brexit causes no legal impediment to the mechanism set out in the Agreement for a united Ireland, in accordance with the principle of consent.

“Special status” for Northern Ireland is taken to mean a specific request for Northern Ireland to remain within the EU with a special status post Brexit. While the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union is something that the Irish Government strongly opposed, our task now is to face up to the unwanted result and outcome with all of the challenges that brings, in order to secure the best outcome for the island of Ireland as a whole.

While the Irish Government is actively seeking recognition and accommodation of the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland, our extensive discussions with partner governments across the EU – including the UK - have made clear that concepts and terms like “special status” give rise to serious concerns for other EU partners about precedents that might be set elsewhere.This would risk undermining the Government’s efforts to specifically address and mitigate the very real impacts facing our island – and the people of Northern Ireland in particular - due to Brexit. While I entirely understand the rationale of those seeking a “special status” designation, the fact is that such a proposal would unnecessarily distract from work to secure arrangements which reflect the genuine uniqueness of Northern Ireland’s situation, founded in the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement, as well as its geographic status as the only land border between the UK and the EU27.

Last week I outlined to the House the need for specific, effective, and realisable measures that could address the major issues of concern under Brexit, whether these relate to the border, or to the citizenship, constitutional and human rights provisions of the Agreement, or otherwise. The Government will also be advocating for the continuation of the range of EU policy supports to Northern Ireland and the peace process, including in relation to EU funding and is looking at existing precedents and potential innovative approaches in this regard.

The Government will continue to work with our EU partners and prepare comprehensively in support of our overall objectives.