Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

329. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the most recent engagement he has had with European Union officials and directly with UK officials regarding the Northern Ireland Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26423/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I speak regularly with the both the European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefcovic and with UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss with regard to EU-UK relations generally, and the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland in particular. Most recently, I met with Vice-President Šefcovic in Brussels on May 16, and with Foreign Secretary Truss on May 20 in Turin.

I made clear to the Foreign Secretary my deep regret with regards to the announcement by the British government of its intention to introduce legislation in the coming weeks that will unilaterally dis-apply elements of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. Such unilateral action in respect of an internationally binding agreement is damaging to trust and will serve only to make it more challenging to find solutions to the genuine concerns that people in Northern Ireland have about how the Protocol is being implemented.

At a time when people in Northern Ireland have chosen their elected representatives and want to get the Executive back up and running, the path chosen by the British government is of great concern. It undermines political stability and confidence in Northern Ireland’s economy. This unilateral action is contrary to the wishes of people and business in Northern Ireland.

The EU has indicated that it is ready and willing to resume talks with the UK at any time on implementing the Protocol. I urged the Foreign Secretary to engage constructively and in a spirit of partnership with the EU to resolve the issues that matter most to people and businesses in Northern Ireland.

I engage widely and regularly with political, business and civic society contacts in Northern Ireland. I have listened carefully to the genuine concerns of people and business in Northern Ireland around the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and having a greater say on how the Protocol works. There is a basis for solutions to all of these issues in the package of Proposals brought forward by the Commission last year. I fully agree with Commission Vice President Šefcovic’s view that there is further potential to be explored in these proposals.

I continue to undertake regular and extensive outreach with my counterparts across the European Union on this and other matters, as does Minister of State Thomas Byrne. It is clear that the EU remains united in its commitment to Northern Ireland. With the full support of the Member States, Commission Vice-President Šefcovic and his team have been consistent in their readiness to work with the UK to reach agreement on pragmatic and flexible solutions.

I note also that the Taoiseach remains in regular contact with both Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking to her on this matter on May 19, the President of the European Commission Charles Michel, with whom he spoke on May 16, and with Prime Minister Johnson with whom he spoke on May 10. We continue to urge the UK to engage in intensified EU-UK discussions to address issues relating to the implementation of the Protocol. Jointly agreed solutions are the only sustainable way forward to bring certainty and prosperity for all in Northern Ireland.