Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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386. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which Irish consulates overseas are engaged with the promotion of Irish exports with particular reference to issues arising in the aftermath of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4181/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Mission Network, Embassies and Consulates General, play an important role in advancing Ireland’s international trade as a key component of Team Ireland overseas. They provide support for Ireland’s State Agencies, including through supporting their strategic objectives and activities in overseas markets. The role of the Mission Network in supporting the promotion of exports is particularly pertinent in markets with limited or no State Agency presence.

Since the referendum result in 2016, we have been taking steps to build up the resilience of the economy in the face of Brexit. This involved actions across the whole of Government, including through Ireland Connected, to diversify trade beyond the UK market while working to consolidate the exports we currently send to the UK.

In June 2018, the Government launched the Global Ireland initiative, which aims to double the impact and scope of Ireland’s global footprint by 2025. Global Ireland's targets include enhanced global engagement, the expansion of Ireland’s Embassy network and strengthening of Ireland’s State Agency presence overseas. Each of these measures will increase Ireland’s international visibility, facilitate market diversification and intensification, and deepen bilateral relations in support of the Government’s economic and political objectives, including in the context of Brexit.

To date, the Government has approved funding for new Missions in locations as diverse as Wellington, and Bogotá, as well as in Santiago de Chile, and Amman. Plans are advanced to open Embassies in 2021 in Kyiv, Manila and Rabat, and a Consulate General covering the north of England, in Manchester.

New Missions have been opened in locations chosen on the basis, inter alia, of their potential to diversify our markets, to increase trade and investment with Ireland, and to enable Irish companies to better take advantage of new opportunities.

As of 1 January 2021 the UK is outside the seamless trading environment of the EU Single Market and Customs Union. Officers based at all Missions continuously engage in economic and public diplomacy to promote Irish exports and to advance Ireland’s prosperity and raise awareness of Ireland as a place to live, study, work, visit and do business.

They engage on a range of trade-related issues, including market access, regulatory compliance, visas, phyto-sanitary issues, and double taxation agreements.

The mission network also supports Irish businesses in market, by providing contacts and information, organising visits overseas by ministers, and supporting trade missions, in partnership with the state agencies.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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387. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he remains satisfied that the Ireland protocols in the context of Brexit are being observed in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4182/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, which forms part of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, came into effect on 1 January. It plays a vital role in protecting the Good Friday Agreement and the gains of the peace process, including avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, as well as protecting the integrity of the Single Market and Ireland’s place in it.

It means that while Northern Ireland remains part of the UK's customs territory, it is subject to certain provisions of EU law. These EU law provisions are effectively those necessary to avoid a hard border on the island, and include the Union Customs Code and EU legislation across a range of areas necessary to protect the integrity and operation of the Single Market in goods. In short, it ensures that NI traders continue to have access not only to Great Britain but to the Single Market of 450 million consumers - access which is vital for all-island supply chains.

The EU and the UK last December agreed an approach to the implementation of the Protocol, including in a number of EU-UK Joint Committee Decisions and unilateral declarations, taking account of Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances.

In line with Article 12 of the Protocol, UK authorities are responsible for implementing the provisions of EU law made applicable by the Protocol in respect of Northern Ireland. EU representatives have the right to be present during these activities, and have been exercising that right.

At the same time, the Government continues to engage closely with stakeholders in Northern Ireland, including in the business community, on issues related to implementation of the Protocol. We have been consistent in our position that we want the Protocol to work as smoothly as possible for people and businesses in Northern Ireland, and indeed for the island of Ireland.