Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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123. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with political representatives in Northern Ireland with regard to the Windsor Framework. [13499/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I, together with my Government colleagues, have engaged closely and consistently with a broad range of stakeholders in Northern Ireland, including political representatives, as well as civic society and the business community, on the Protocol for Ireland/Northern Ireland. The clear and consistent message we received was on the need for stability and certainty.

I welcome the agreement by the EU and the UK of the Windsor Framework, which puts in place practical solutions to the real-life concerns raised by people and businesses and which can enable the stability and certainty that people in Northern Ireland want.

I have heard first-hand the genuine economic opportunities which the Windsor Framework offers the people of Northern Ireland through its unique access to both the EU Single Market along with the UK’s internal market, enabling much-needed investment in Northern Ireland.

While the Assembly parties will naturally require some time to study the Windsor Framework, this should not be an obstacle to the full functioning of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement across all three Strands.

I remain in regular contact with political representatives in Northern Ireland to encourage the return to a functioning Assembly and Executive, and also with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris-Heaton Harris to discuss how best to achieve this shared goal.