Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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557. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the ongoing contact by him and his office with the Northern Ireland authorities in the context of recent deliberations on the Northern Ireland Protocol. [9877/23]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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558. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to indicate the extent to which it is expected to engage in a positive way with all parties in Northern Ireland with the objective of encouraging and promoting all positive developments in the context of the Windsor Framework Agreement. [11300/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 557 and 558 together.

I remain in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Assembly parties, and my officials continue to engage with the Executive Office, including on the Windsor Framework.

The Windsor Framework was agreed by the EU and UK in response to the practical real life issues raised by stakeholders, providing the stability and certainty into the future that people in Northern Ireland articulated in the close engagement I, and other Government colleagues, maintained over the past two years with the Assembly parties, civic society and business on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.

While it is understandable that the Assembly parties will need time to consider the details of the Windsor Framework, it remains my view that this should take place in parallel to the restoration of the institutions.

The business community in Northern Ireland has welcomed the Windsor Framework and in my engagements with stakeholders I have heard first-hand that it presents positive and genuine economic opportunities to communities in Northern Ireland. It will allow businesses in Northern Ireland to continue to access the EU Single Market along with the UK’s internal market. This is a unique opportunity.