Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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83. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61853/22]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) provides for continued trade and cooperation between the European Union and the United Kingdom.

While the seamless pre-Brexit relationship with the UK cannot be replaced, the TCA provides for tariff- and quota- free goods trade between the EU and the UK as well as cooperation in a wide range of areas of importance to Ireland such as energy, fisheries, and policing and judicial cooperation.

Two years into its operation, the various governance structures and bodies of the Agreement are now up and running. The European Commission Vice President and the UK Foreign Secretary have met in the Partnership Council and EU and UK experts have met in the 18 Specialised Committees covering specific elements of the Agreement. These meetings have taken place in a constructive atmosphere, with both sides committed to ensuring effective implementation of the Agreement. Ireland has actively inputted on the EU side, making sure that our interests are fully represented in these important meetings.

The EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly has now met twice and is providing an important forum for public representatives to meet and shape the direction of the EU-UK relationship. The TCA Domestic Advisory Group and the Civil Society Forum allow civil society, business, trade union and other non-governmental representatives offer valuable advice and recommendations on the implementation of the Agreement.

While the TCA is operating broadly well, the overall EU-UK relationship is affected by the on-going tensions arising from the UK’s failure to fully implement the Protocol on Northern Ireland. Resolving the outstanding issues with regard to the Protocol would help rebuild trust between the EU and the UK and allow for even more positive and contrastive cooperation.