Written answers

Thursday, 30 September 2021

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Brexit Issues

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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198. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he expects to liaise with political leaders in Northern Ireland with a view to ensuring the future of the Good Friday Agreement and adherence to the settlements arrived at between the EU and the UK in the context of Brexit. [34649/21]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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232. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which issues arising from Brexit continue to impact on Ireland and on the island of Ireland as a whole; the extent to which progress is being made to address the issues with particular reference to the protection of the Good Friday Agreement including no Border on the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47415/21]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 232 together.

It has always been clear that Brexit would be profoundly disruptive for the island of Ireland as a whole. The UK’s decision to leave the Customs Union and Single Market produced inevitable and unwelcome consequences for the island. Even with the Withdrawal Agreement and Trade and Cooperation Agreement in place, the seamless trade we enjoyed with Great Britain when we were both members of the Single Market cannot be replicated as was. The Government has dedicated substantial time and resources into preparing for Brexit since 2016 and continues to do whatever it can to mitigate against disruption caused by Brexit.

At an early stage in the Withdrawal Agreement negotiations, both the UK and the EU acknowledged the unique circumstances on the island, recognising the necessity of protecting the Good Friday Agreement and the gains of the peace process, including avoiding a hard border and protecting North-South cooperation. The full implementation and effective operation of the Good Friday Agreement and all subsequent agreements is an utmost priority for this Government. The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, which is an integral part of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, was designed and agreed by the UK and the EU to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement and gains of the peace process, while at the same time protecting the integrity of the EU Single Market and Ireland’s place within it.

I am in regular and ongoing contact with political leaders and other stakeholders in Northern Ireland in relation to the implementation of the Protocol, as well as with Commission Vice President Maros Šefcovic, fellow EU Member State colleagues, and British Government counterparts. 

Our approach, shared by our EU colleagues, continues to be informed by engagements with people and businesses across Northern Ireland, taking on board genuine concerns as we seek realistic solutions within the framework of the Protocol. Throughout these engagements, the clear message we have received is that most people in Northern Ireland – especially those in the business community – want the Protocol to work well. 

However, stability, certainty, and predictability are required to realise the opportunities which the Protocol presents for Northern Ireland. This can only be achieved by the UK and the EU jointly agreeing solutions to outstanding issues. In this regard, we welcome the continuation of technical talks between the two sides and the latest meeting of the Specialised Committee on the Protocol on 24 September. 

We take unionist concerns in relation to the Protocol seriously and we will continue to listen and engage with those concerns, just as we have with the perspectives of everyone across Northern Ireland. It is important to reiterate that the Protocol makes no change to the constitutional status of Northern Ireland as set out in the Good Friday Agreement. 

We remain confident that solutions do exist, within the parameters of the Protocol, for the issues that have arisen to date. The EU has consistently demonstrated a considered, credible, solution-driven approach to these issues. We will continue to encourage the UK to work in partnership with the EU in a spirit of positive and constructive engagement in order to identify pragmatic and sustainable solutions.

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