Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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146. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the work in relation to the Ireland Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23621/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland was designed and agreed by the UK and EU to mitigate against the inevitable disruptions arising from Brexit on the island of Ireland and to protect the Good Friday Agreement in all its dimensions.

EU-UK engagement on resolving outstanding issues under the Protocol is an ongoing process. The EU-UK Joint Committee met on 21 February and the Specialised Committee on the Protocol on 8 March.

The EU has listened carefully to the genuine concerns expressed by citizens and business in Northern Ireland about the Protocol, including in the run up to the Northern Ireland Assembly elections.

The clear message I have heard first hand from people and businesses in Northern Ireland is that they want the Protocol to work well. They see the very real opportunities, including for jobs, trade and investment, which are presented by the Protocol for Northern Ireland.

Ireland and the EU also want these opportunities to be fully realised. This was why last October the Commission made proposals to address directly the concerns raised by people in Northern Ireland. These include proposals to reduce significantly checks on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and giving people in Northern Ireland a greater say in how the Protocol works. In April, the EU adopted legislation to ensure the continuity of medicines supply to Northern Ireland.

Member States support for minimising disruption in Northern Ireland remains strong. The flexibility shown by the EU now needs to be reciprocated by the UK Government.

I remain in regular contact with counterparts in the EU, UK and the US and I have spoken in recent days to Commission Vice President Maroš Šefcovic, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Secretary of State Brandon Lewis and US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan.

Our message is clear. We continue to urge the UK government to engage constructively with the EU. Only joint solutions can provide long-term legal certainty and predictability to Northern Ireland.