Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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396. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a firm commitment has been received from the UK Prime Minister, Mrs. May, on Britain's intention to remain in the European Convention of Human Rights in view of the fact that withdrawal from this convention would have implications for the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16333/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government takes very seriously its responsibility to safeguard its institutions and principles, including in the area of human rights. The protection of human rights in Northern Ireland law, incorporating the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), is one of the key principles underpinning the Good Friday Agreement.

At their first meeting in London on 26 July 2016, the Taoiseach and Prime Minister May reaffirmed that the Good Friday Agreement is and will remain the foundation for co-operation between the Irish and British Governments on Northern Ireland. It is important to underline that the ECHR system is separate and distinct from the European Union, and current process of the UK exit from the European Union has no impact on the UK’s participation in that system. In this regard, I welcome the clarification last week in the UK Government’s White Paper on withdrawal from the EU that it has no plans to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights.

In the crucial area of human rights it is important that both Governments do all they can to engender confidence by demonstrating their commitment to both the letter and spirit of the Agreement. In Northern Ireland, the human rights provisions support the confidence and willingness of all communities to participate in the agreed political institutions of the Agreement and ensure that every citizen is guaranteed equal status and equal protection under law.

The Good Friday Agreement is clear that there is an obligation to incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights into Northern Ireland law and this is a continuing obligation. The Government has underlined this obligation in the context of British Government proposals, not connected with Brexit, to repeal the UK Human Rights Act, which incorporates the ECHR into domestic law, and to introduce a domestic Bill of Rights. In this regard, the Government has stressed to the British Government the importance of fully meeting its human rights obligations under the Good Friday Agreement and will continue to monitor the situation closely.