Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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127. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the current state of negotiation between the EU and the UK on finding an agreed settlement on the Northern Ireland protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4004/23]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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135. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his assessment of the current situation with the Northern Ireland protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4215/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 135 together.

Talks are on-going between the EU and the UK on the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol. In their most recent engagement, on 16 January, European Commission Vice President Šefčovič on the EU side and Foreign Secretary Cleverly and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Heaton-Harris on the UK side, agreed that their officials should continue to scope the potential for joint solutions to outstanding issues.

This followed a Joint Statement on 9 January, which noted that agreement had been reached in respect of the question of the EU's access to UK IT systems.  The two sides acknowledged in their Joint Statement that this was a critical prerequisite to building trust between the EU and the UK.

I welcome these signs of progress in the talks. However, it is important to acknowledge that there are a range of important and difficult issues that need to be addressed regarding the Protocol.

The European Union has listened to the concerns of people and business in Northern Ireland and has committed to working with the UK to finding joint solutions to those issues of concern.

As we have done throughout the Brexit process, the Government remains fully engaged with our counterparts across the EU as well as key interlocutors and stakeholders in the UK, Northern Ireland and the US.

I speak regularly with Commission Vice President Šefčovič, whom I met in Brussels earlier this month.  

I have had a number of engagements with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris and with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.

I am also in on-going contact with the political parties and other key stakeholders in Northern Ireland.

It is my hope that joint solutions can be found that not only provide certainty and stability for people and business in Northern Ireland, but also open up opportunities for greater EU-UK as well as British-Irish cooperation.