Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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126. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his engagement with the British government on issues relating to the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57562/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government has consistently raised the issues in the All Party Motion on the 1974 Dublin Monaghan bombing, calling on the British government to allow access by an independent, international judicial figure to all original documents relating to the bombings, with the British government including at the recent British Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 7 October in London.

We have made clear to our counterparts that the absence of a response from the British Government is of deep concern to the Government, and that there remains an urgent need for a response. The Government will continue to engage with the British Government on this request, to pursue all possible avenues to achieve progress on this issue until a resolution is found.

The Government will maintain a close and cooperative relationship with Justice for the Forgotten, as we continue work to seek the full facts of the appalling events of 25 May 1974 and of other attacks in this jurisdiction during the Troubles.

The Government is also committed to supporting the work of Kenova, which is a series of ongoing independent UK police investigations or reviews into Northern Ireland legacy cases. Operation Denton is an ongoing independent analytical review by Kenova into the activities of what was known as the Glenanne Gang in Northern Ireland and includes the Dublin Monaghan Bombings.

As Operation Denton is an analytical review being carried out in another jurisdiction rather than a formal criminal investigation, in order to achieve the strong desire of An Garda Síochána and the Government to co-operate with Operation Denton to the maximum extent possible, it was necessary to create a dedicated cooperation mechanism. In June the Minister for Justice signed a directive under section 25(1) of the Garda Síochána Act and in July the Minister signed a regulation under the Data Protection Acts to facilitate the transfer of information to Operation Denton. On foot of this information has been provided to the Kenova Team.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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127. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the interaction that he has had with his British counterpart regarding the Northern Ireland Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57650/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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It is welcome that, for the first time in six months, the UK has re-engaged in talks with the EU on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. I am encouraged that the British side has indicated that it wishes to reach a negotiated outcome and it is vital that their officials are now given a clear mandate to make substantive progress.

I have had sustained and constructive engagement with the British Government on the implementation of the Protocol in recent weeks. Earlier this month, I met with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris in Belfast and in October I travelled to London to meet with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. The Taoiseach also met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the margins of the British-Irish Council earlier this month and Minister of State Byrne met with his British Government counterpart, Leo Docherty, last week.

Our consistent message in these exchanges has been to urge the British Government to engage positively with the EU and to remain focused on the practical, day-to-day issues of concern to people and businesses in Northern Ireland, in particular around the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. We have also welcomed the extension of the period during which the Northern Ireland parties can form an Executive. The position of the Government is consistent on this: we want to see an Executive formed and, separately, we want to see early substantive progress in EU-UK talks. 

Only jointly agreed solutions can deliver the long-term certainty and stability needed by people and businesses in Northern Ireland to maximise the benefits of the Protocol. With the recent resumption in EU-UK talks, there is now a window of opportunity to reach joint solutions on the issues of concern to people in Northern Ireland.

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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128. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the EU General Affairs Council meeting on 18 November 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57847/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, attended the General Affairs Council on Friday 18 November where Ministers had a first exchange of views on the annotated draft agenda of theEuropean Council on 15-16 December 2022. The agenda will include discussion on Ukraine/Russia, Energy and Economy, Southern Neighbourhood, and External Relations, where a discussion on Transatlantic Relations and possibly also the Enlargement perspective of the Western Balkans is expected. 

Ministers received a briefing on the state of play of EU-UK relations from Commission Vice President Šefčovič. VP Šefčovič emphasised the need for the positive mood music by the UK to now be turned into concrete action to find joint solutions on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, using the window of opportunity created by the postponement of the NI elections. Minister Byrne voiced full support for VP Šefčovič and the Commission’s approach as well as our appreciation of the ongoing solidarity of Partners. Under the Legislative Programming item, Commission VP Šefčovič also provided an overview on the Commission’s planned work programme for 2023, ahead of forthcoming dialogue with the European Parliament and the Council.

Ministers also participated in a fifth hearing on the rule of law in Hungarybased on the European Parliament’s Article 7(1) TEU reasoned proposal and under AoB, received an update from Poland following the missile strikes in Poland on 15 November. Minister Byrne extended Ireland's full sympathy and solidarity to the Polish government and people following last week’s tragic incident and underlined our full support to Ukraine as it continues to suffer the horrific consequences arising from Russian aggression. 

A final item discussed under any other business was follow up to the Conference on the Future of Europe where the Presidency updated on plans for the follow-up event scheduled to take place in Brussels on 2 December. The importance of citizens playing a central role in the structure and conduct of this follow-up event was emphasised by Ministers who intervened.