Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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12. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he expects a reset on the Northern Ireland Protocol following the change in government in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48897/22]

Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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16. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom regarding the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48657/22]

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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35. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline his recent interactions with the British government on the Northern Ireland Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48808/22]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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48. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had any discussions with the new United Kingdom Foreign Secretary in relation to the Northern Ireland Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48899/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 16, 35 and 48 together.

As I set out earlier, we have a real opportunity for a return to substantive talks aimed at finding jointly agreed solutions around the implementation of the Protocol on Northern Ireland.

I have been clear in my view that with political leadership the genuine issues arising in the implementation of the Protocol can be resolved, in particular around moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

This has also been the consistent message from the European Commission, as well as EU capitals. The EU’s door remains open. As Commission Vice President Šefcovic has pointed out time and again, the EU has always shown flexibility in its approach to finding solutions and will continue to do so.

I am therefore heartened that Vice President Šefcovic and Foreign Secretary Cleverly have announced that technical talks between the EU and UK negotiating teams will recommence this week. This is precisely what this Government and the European Union have been calling for over the course of the past few months.

The appointment of Prime Minister Truss and her new team has seen seen a welcome increase in engagement at political level between the Commission and the EU as well as between Irish Government and their UK counterparts.

The Taoiseach had a warm engagement with PM Truss on 18 September and I have had positive early discussions with both Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton Harris. It is constructive that all these engagements have been underpinned by a clear message of a commitment to negotiated joint solutions.

I will meet the Foreign Secretary in London this evening for more in-depth discussion on the Protocol and also on the range of global challenges we continue to work on, including as members of the UN Security Council.

I am also looking forward to building on my initial productive meeting with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when I meet him again at the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference meeting in London tomorrow.

I have also continued to meet the political parties and key stakeholders in Northern Ireland.

In the course of all my engagements, I have expressed my view that our focus must remain on the formation of an Executive in Northern Ireland. With the October 28th deadline rapidly approaching, I would urge the DUP to re-assess their approach. The deadline is a firm, legal one. Their decision to prevent the establishment of an Executive is a political choice. I would urge them to make a better choice.

I recognise and acknowledge the serious concerns that many, particularly in the unionist community, have around the implementation of the Protocol. However, the EU’s position has always been to ensure that the arrangements required as a result of Brexit - and in particular the type of Brexit chosen by the British Government - would operate in a way that impacts as little as possible on people’s everyday lives, including in relation to East-West trade.

Therefore, discussions aimed at resolving issues over the Protocol can proceed in parallel to the process of Executive formation – it should not be a barrier to Northern Ireland’s elected representatives reconvening to give voice to the people of Northern Ireland.

The Taoiseach, Minister of State Byrne and I remain in close contact with our European partners and with the European institutions at all times. Our EU partners continue to show full solidarity with Ireland, as has been the case throughout the Brexit process.

I remain in close contact with Maroš Šefcovic and, like all my EU counterparts, fully support the approach the Commission is taking to find solutions. There remains a shared understanding on the importance on finding solutions on the issues of most concern to people and businesses.

There is sufficient flexibility within the existing framework of the Protocol and the Commission proposals to address these concerns, if the political will to pursue a solution that works in the interest of Northern Ireland exists.

We also remain in close contacts with key interlocutors in the US administration and Congress. We are grateful for continued bipartisan US support for peace and stability in Northern Ireland throughout the Brexit process.

While the developments in recent days have been positive, it remains the fact that the British Government is proceeding with its legislation on the Protocol which, if implemented, would disapply core elements of the Protocol. This unilateral approach does not help build trust in relations between the EU and the UK.

I have made clear to our British interlocutors our concerns at this approach. Wrapping actions in vague language around protecting the Good Friday Agreement serves nobody, especially not the people, business and elected representatives in Northern Ireland.

I will not waiver from the view that the Protocol strenuously protects the Good Friday Agreement and the gains of the peace process, including avoiding a hard border, while ensuring the integrity of the EU Single Market and Ireland’s place in it. The Protocol is an international agreement by two parties, and cannot be ‘fixed’ by one acting unilaterally. I firmly believe the issues raised around the Protocol can be addressed by the UK and EU working together to find joint, sustainable, pragmatic solutions.

More broadly, it is always worth repeating that the EU wishes to have a positive and stable relationship with the UK. We are partners facing the same global challenges, where upholding the rule of law is imperative. The current pressing priorities - such as war in Ukraine, energy, and cost of living crises - puts the importance of finding agreed solutions to the Protocol into perspective.