Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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32. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with his UK counterpart following the publication by the UK Government of the approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10296/20]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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36. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with members of the UK Government in relation to the need to honour the commitments it made in relation to the Protocol on Northern Ireland following the departure of the UK from the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10415/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 36 together.

The Taoiseach, my cabinet colleagues and I take every opportunity to engage with EU partners and, as appropriate UK counterparts, to advance Ireland’s priorities in the context of the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Over recent weeks, I have had contacts with UK Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis, including on matters arising from the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. I have stressed the importance of ensuring the full implementation of the Protocol, as agreed, and continue to emphasise the importance of the protection of the Good Friday Agreement and the gains of the peace process in the operationalisation of these arrangements.

Implementing the Protocol fully, in a way that meets all the obligations to which the UK has committed, will provide the clarity and stability which are vital for businesses and people in Northern Ireland - and ultimately for the sustainability of these arrangements which have been designed to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement and the gains of the Peace Process.

Implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland is an essential part of ongoing EU-UK contacts. The first meeting of the EU-UK Specialised Committee on the Protocol took place on 30 April, and Ireland participated as part of the EU delegation. The Protocol will also be a matter for discussion in the upcoming meeting of the EU-UK Joint Committee on 12 June.

The paper published by the UK Government on 20 May, setting out its approach to implementing the Protocol, is an important step.The European Commission has also set out clearly and in detail what needs to be addressed for implementation of the Protocol, in its Technical Note of 30 April. What is imperative now is to see early and detailed work to ensure that the Protocol is fully operational by the end of transition.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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33. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of the most recent discussions he has had with the EU Commission in relation to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10297/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach, my cabinet colleagues and I take every opportunity to engage with our EU partners to advance Ireland’s priorities in matters arising from the UK's withdrawal from the EU, including the EU-UK Future Partnership negotiations, implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.

My engagement with key interlocutors on Brexit has continued in recent months, including recent contacts with EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier, and with a range of EU Foreign Ministers.

Four rounds of negotiations on the EU-UK Future Partnership have now taken place. While the atmosphere of the talks has been constructive, significant gaps remain between the two sides. Speaking after the fourth round of negotiations on 5 June, Michel Barnier underlined the objective of making parallel progress across all issues, and the importance of making progress on key 'sticking points - fisheries, the Level Playing Field, governance, and law enforcement and judicial and police cooperation issues.

The EU-UK future relationship is on the agenda of the informal meeting of Europe Ministers on 16 June and it is also expected to be on the agenda of the meeting of Heads of State and Government on 19 June. A planned High Level Conference between the EU and the UK in June will also assess progress made to date in Future Partnership negotiations.

Officials from across Government are continuing their work to make sure that Ireland’s voice is heard at the Future Partnership negotiations in line with the EU’s negotiating mandate, and that work to implement the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland is taken forward. Ireland has participated, as part of the EU delegation, in the EU-UK Joint Committee and in Specialised Committees established under the Withdrawal Agreement, notably the Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. Ireland will also participate at the next meeting of the EU-UK Joint Committee, which will take place on 12 June.

The Government will continue to engage closely and work with the Taskforce and the Commission, our EU partners, and stakeholders across this island on this vital issue.