Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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138. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if European Union leaders or officials on their behalf requested a change to the EU backstop; and if there have been requests from his Polish counterpart on having a five-year time limit on same. [3852/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There has been no suggestion from any of our EU partners that the Withdrawal Agreement, or the backstop which forms part of it, can or should be reopened. Rather there has been clear and unwavering solidarity on it from EU partners and institutions.

Throughout the Article 50 process they have demonstrated strong understanding, and support, for the need to address the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland, to maintain the necessary conditions for North-South cooperation, to avoid a hard border, and to protect the peace process. This has not changed.

The European Council, in its conclusions of 13 December 2018, made clear that the Union stands by the Withdrawal Agreement and that it is not open for renegotiation. This position was reiterated in the exchange of letters between Prime Minister May and Presidents Tusk and Juncker on 14 January, which provided important clarifications and reassurances, but made clear that the EU is not in a position to agree to anything that is inconsistent to what has been agreed with the British Government in the Withdrawal Agreement, including on the backstop.

The Polish Foreign Minister made a suggestion on a time limit for the backstop to me during his visit to Dublin in December. On that occasion I made clear that a time-limit would not work. The backstop acts as an insurance policy to avoid a hard border in all scenarios, and a time-limit would be contrary to its purpose.

Since Foreign Minister Czaputowicz made his comments in a press interview, our Ambassador has clarified with the Polish authorities that Poland maintains the EU’s unified position. This was confirmed in comments by the Polish Prime Minister in Davos.