Written answers

Tuesday, 1 October 2019

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Brexit Negotiations

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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122. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on media reports (details supplied) regarding informal discussions in relation to replacing the backstop; if he or persons on his behalf held informal discussions with Mr. Juncker or Mr. Barnier; and when he expects a written proposal from the UK Prime Minister, Mr. Boris Johnson regarding his proposals. [38504/19]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My officials and I remain in close contact with the European Commission and Taskforce members on Brexit matters.  Last Friday, I met with Michel Barnier to take stock of developments. He reiterated the EUs strong commitment to ensuring a fully operational solution in the Withdrawal Agreement that avoids a hard border on the island of Ireland and protects the all-island economy and the integrity of the Single Market.

Ireland, and our EU partners, stand by the Withdrawal Agreement, which remains the best way to ensure an orderly UK withdrawal. However, we also remain open to examining any workable and legally operative proposals that provide the same operational and legal protections as the backstop.

As part of their ongoing discussions with the Taskforce, the UK has provided four technical non-papers, as concepts for alternative arrangements to the backstop. These cover elements of an all-island SPS zone, as well as customs, and manufactured goods.  These non-papers do not constitute formal proposals from the UK, and do not amount to legally operational solutions. 

As the Taoiseach stated after his recent meeting with Prime Minister Johnson in New York, there remains a significant gap between what the UK is putting forward, and what Ireland and the EU can accept. Neither Ireland nor the EU can move away from an agreed negotiated position to an unknown and untested solution. It is the UK’s responsibility to come forward with legally operational solutions that are compatible with the Withdrawal Agreement.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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123. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken to other EU leaders regarding Northern Ireland being a special economic zone within both the UK and the EU in view of reports (details supplied) in the media which covered the upcoming meeting between the British Prime Minister, Mr. Boris Johnson and Chancellor Angela Merkel. [38506/19]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland, and our EU partners, stand by the Withdrawal Agreement.  Equally, we are committed to finding a way forward, and, as we have repeatedly said, are open to hearing any credible, fully worked-out proposals from the UK. These should be raised with the European Commission. Negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU are a matter for the European Commission Task Force, led by chief negotiator Michel Barnier, and the UK Government.

 As both Michel Barnier and I have stated on numerous occasions it is up to the UK to provide proposals, which should be credible, concrete and legally operable and capable of achieving the same outcome as the backstop. This means that any solutions must avoid a hard border, fully protect the Good Friday Agreement and North-South cooperation, and preserve the all-island economy, as well the integrity of the EU Single Market and Ireland’s place in it.

 I met with Michel Barnier on 27 September and we had a chance to exchange views on our recent engagements with our British counterparts and to take stock together of where we are.  While contacts between the UK and Commission Taskforce are continuing, the Commission have made clear that the ideas and concepts presented by the UK are technical non-papers rather than detailed, credible proposals and would not be legally operable, nor deliver the same outcomes as the backstop.  The issue of a special economic zone was not discussed during the meeting and has not been raised by the UK during its ongoing discussions with the Task Force.

 It is important to acknowledge that Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland as set out in the Withdrawal Agreement does put in place a specific arrangement for Northern Ireland which responds to the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland. The backstop provides alignment with those rules of the Single Market and Customs Union necessary to avoid a hard border, thus protecting the Good Friday Agreement, and to protect the Single Market. These arrangements enable Northern Ireland businesses to trade freely with both the rest of the UK and with the EU.

 A no deal outcome will never be the choice of Ireland, or the EU, but we cannot move away from an agreed negotiated position to an unknown and untested solution. Responsibility for avoiding a no deal outcome lies with the UK.

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