Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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143. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is considering a long-time limit on the European backstop in view of the difficulties in the House of Commons. [6681/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government is not considering a time limit on the backstop.

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.

The EU27 have consistently, and unanimously, stated that they stand by the Withdrawal Agreement and that it is not open for renegotiation.

President Juncker reiterated this to Prime Minister May directly, during their meeting in Brussels on 7 February, and made clear that the EU is not in a position to agree to anything that is inconsistent with what has been agreed with the British Government in the Withdrawal Agreement, including on the backstop.

President Juncker did express his openness to add wording to the Political Declaration agreed by the EU27 and the UK in order to be more ambitious in terms of content and speed when it comes to the future relationship between the European Union and the UK.