Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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168. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the impact which the draft withdrawal treaty, if agreed, will have on the Good Friday Agreement. [48108/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government is acutely conscious of the potential impact on Northern Ireland of the UK decision to leave the European Union. The Government is determined to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts, and the gains and benefits of the Peace Process, are protected for people on the island of Ireland, North and South. In this regard, the Government appreciates the solidarity and support which has been shown by all of our EU partners in respect of Ireland’s unique issues and concerns.

The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland that is part of the draft Withdrawal Agreement published on 14 November 2018, and agreed at negotiator level, reflects the priority that the Government and our European partners have placed on protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts.

Prime Minister May and her Cabinet have indicated that, for their part, the draft text for the Withdrawal Agreement is an acceptable basis on which to proceed towards a meeting of the European Council which President Tusk has convened for 25 November.

This is a very significant step, one that fully achieves our negotiating priorities for this phase and that reflects the commitments made in the Joint Report between the EU and UK negotiators published on 8 December 2017.

Through the Protocol, the EU and UK will be protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts. Importantly, the draft Protocol makes clear that nothing in this Withdrawal Agreement will affect the constitutional status of Northern Ireland and the principle of consent as set out in the Good Friday Agreement.

Critically, the backstop arrangements in the draft Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland in the draft Withdrawal Agreement guarantee that there will be no hard border on the island of Ireland in any circumstances.

There is a commitment that the UK will ensure that there will be no diminution of rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity as set out in the Good Friday Agreement. The Protocol also recognises that Irish citizens in Northern Ireland are EU citizens and that they will continue to enjoy rights, opportunities and benefits.

In addition, the Protocol provides that the Single Electricity Market will be maintained on the island of Ireland and that North South cooperation can continue in a range of important areas.

The Protocol also contains other provisions that address a number of other unique circumstances on the island of Ireland. These include provision for the maintenance of the Common Travel Area, a key Government objective in negotiations.

The Government will continue to engage intensively, as appropriate, with the EU and the UK to ensure the protection of the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and to secure the gains and benefits of the Peace Process.