Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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45. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the assessment of the House of Commons Northern Ireland select committee that a lack of clarity from the United Kingdom Government has made it difficult to examine the way in which the Northern Ireland Protocol in the United Kingdom’s EU Withdrawal agreement will impact Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18492/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the report referenced by the Deputy, which emphasises in particular the urgent need for clarity for stakeholders in Northern Ireland with regard to implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.

We are fully cognisant of the need for all stakeholders in Northern Ireland, and particularly businesses, to have clarity and detail as soon as possible regarding all aspects of implementation of the Protocol, and the changes which Brexit will inevitably bring. Timely and effective communication will be an important part of this. These points also been made clear by Northern Irish business representatives and other stakeholders, North and South, in my own engagements with them.

It is of crucial importance that the UK advance detailed implementation of all aspects of the Protocol without delay. We have made this point consistently clear in our engagements with the UK Government, for example in my meeting with Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove on 15 July. It was also made clear at the most recent meeting of the EU-UK Specialised Committee on 16 July, which Ireland attended as part of the EU delegation.

The Government acknowledges and welcomes recent positive developments in this regard, including the UK’s application for SPS-related border control posts in Northern Ireland, as well as other recent technical engagements which have taken place between the EU and UK on implementation of the Protocol. However, it is clear that further progress is required and we continue to urge the UK Government to take this operational and technical work forward as a matter of urgency, to give all stakeholders in Northern Ireland the clarity they need.

The Protocol allows for a set of arrangements to address the challenges of Brexit on the island of Ireland. The Protocol is designed to protect the peace and prosperity delivered through the Good Friday Agreement in all circumstances, while also protecting the Single Market and Ireland’s place in it. We remain firmly of the view that the Protocol, once fully implemented, will work well for Northern Ireland and for Ireland.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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46. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the exact sum allocated to the €5 billion Brexit reserve fund agreed at the European Council meeting recently; the criteria for allocating this fund; the timescale involved in the allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18555/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The European Council agreed to establish a special Brexit Adjustment Reserve of €5 billion to counter the adverse consequences in those Member States and sectors that are worst affected. The Brexit Adjustment Reserve will be a Special Instrument outside the ceilings of the new MFF.  

The European Commission has been tasked with presenting a proposal for the Brexit Adjustment Reserve by November at the latest. The exact criteria for disbursements under the Reserve will now be worked out. Ireland is already engaging closely with the Commission on ensuring that the criteria for allocating funds ensure that they are targeted at those Member States disproportionately most affected by Brexit.  

I welcome the European Council’s decision to establish the special Brexit Adjustment Reserve, which will be an important instrument for Ireland to access as the Member State likely to be most impacted economically by the UK’s departure from the European Union. One of Ireland’s top priorities during the negotiations was to ensure that the MFF and Next Generation EU package included such an instrument. This successful outcome represents a continuation of the EU’s solidarity on Brexit and recognition of the particular and unique challenges we face.