Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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255. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of his most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the political parties in Stormont in relation to the Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28805/22]

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.

I maintain regular and ongoing contact with my UK counterparts, including the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. I have met with both the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Foreign Secretary in recent weeks to discuss a range of issues, including the Protocol.

In those meetings I expressed my deep disappointment at the British Government’s intention to table legislation to unilaterally dis-apply elements of the Protocol. My message remains clear. I continue to urge the British Government against unilateral action and encourage constructive engagement with the EU. 

I have also remained in regular contact with the parties in Northern Ireland following last month’s Assembly elections. I hope, as we all do, to see the early establishment of an Executive and will continue to encourage the parties to work together to achieve this. Work on formation of the Executive and on application of the Protocol should both proceed in parallel. In the period ahead, we will continue to engage with the political parties and the British Government, to support the full functioning of all of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement.

We have listened and take all sincerely held concerns about the Protocol seriously. The EU has also consistently engaged with the perspectives of everyone in Northern Ireland. In October, the Commission presented a package of proposals that responds directly to their concerns. These proposals would ease the flow of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and give Northern Ireland a greater say in the implementation of the Protocol. 

Only joint solutions can provide long-term legal certainty and predictability to people and businesses in Northern Ireland.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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256. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of his most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the political parties in relation to the urgent need to have all the political institutions established under the Good Friday Agreement fully functioning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28806/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I have remained in contact with the parties in Northern Ireland, and with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland following the Assembly elections. I travelled to Belfast for meetings with the political parties on 11 May last. In addition, the Taoiseach travelled to Belfast on 20 May to meet with political parties and business leaders. Engagement is essential between the parties and between the Governments at this time. In our discussions with the political parties during these visits, the importance of forming an Executive as soon as possible was discussed, as well as issues in relation to the Protocol.

This election has undoubtedly brought with it significant democratic change, which will need to be navigated in the period ahead. It is, first and foremost, a matter for the parties now, and those representatives that have been elected in good faith, to come together to establish an Executive that can deliver for all of the people of Northern Ireland on the basis of the result of the election, and in a spirit of partnership, equality and mutual respect.

It is disappointing that it was not possible to elect an Assembly Speaker again on Monday.

We will continue to engage with the parties and the British Government to support the full functioning of the democratic institutions of the Good Friday Agreement. I hope, as we all do, that we will see those institutions up and running as soon as possible. I will also continue to remain in close contact with the Secretary of State, as both Governments work in partnership as co-guarantors of the Agreement, in support of power-sharing and a peaceful and prosperous future for all the people of Northern Ireland.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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257. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the next meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference will be held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28807/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Meetings of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) are prepared through the Joint British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat (BIIGS) in Belfast, which is staffed by officials from my Department and the Department of Justice, and their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Office.

As established under Strand Three of the Good Friday Agreement, the Conference brings both Governments together to promote bilateral co-operation on matters of mutual interest within their competence. 

The most recent meeting of the BIIGC took place in Dublin on 23^rdMarch. Advanced preparation is underway for the next BIIGC to take place in the UK over the summer with several dates under consideration at present.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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258. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has outlined to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland that the recent proposals by the British government concerning legacy issues are unacceptable and if he has raised with him the need to implement the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28808/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The UK Government’s Legacy Bill has now been introduced into Westminster and has had its second reading.

It is disappointing that the UK Government has chosen to unilaterally introduce legislation, moving away from the process agreed in the Stormont House Agreement, a process that was agreed by both Governments, political parties and victims and survivors groups.

I have raised my concerns about the UK’s move away from the Stormont House Agreement with the Secretary of State on a number of occasions, including at the time of the Assembly election and at the British Irish Inter-Governmental Conference in March.  I will continue to do so.  

My meetings with political parties in Northern Ireland in the wake of the election also offered an opportunity to hear their views and concerns about the Legacy Bill. Officials from my Department have also engaged with victims groups, which is crucial.

Lasting progress is best achieved through finding an agreed way forward based on engagement and sufficient consensus. We already had the basis for that in the Stormont House Agreement.

In addition to concerns about the process, we have a number of serious concerns about the substantive provisions of the Bill. These include the powers of the Commission, the status of the ‘reviews’ proposed in the Bill, and of course, fundamentally, compliance with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and other international human rights obligations.

I know that many families are upset by the publication and progress of this Bill, including those waiting for inquests or pursuing civil litigation. There will be many that understandably feel that immunity, conditional or otherwise, may be more about protecting perpetrators instead of pursuing justice and getting to the truth in such cases. It is vital that those concerns are heard and fully understood. It is also vital that the process for dealing with the legacy build rather than erode trust and confidence. 

I wholeheartedly welcome the contributions from members in last week's debate in this chamber.

We will continue to engage with the UK Government, at all levels, to better understand the provisions of this bill.  I have serious concerns and cannot support it in its current form.