Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 June 2016
140. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the implications for the working of the European Court of Human Rights and the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement arising from the British decision to leave the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18765/16]
View answerThere is no change to the status of the Good Friday Agreement or the workings of the European Court of Human Rights arising from the result of the UK referendum of the EU last week.
As reflected in the Programme for a Partnership Government, the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the subsequent agreements, including the 2014 Stormont House and the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement, is a priority for the Government.
Following the referendum result on Friday, I spoke with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and we both agreed that the Good Friday Agreement and its institutions remain central to both Governments’ approach to Northern Ireland.
The Government will seek to ensure that future EU-UK and Ireland-UK negotiations give priority attention to the Northern Ireland dimension. This includes issues relating to the border and EU funding. During such negotiations we would actively seek to avoid the introduction of any new measures that could negatively impact on the Border region, either North or South.
It is important to underline that we do not envisage any immediate changes to EU funded Cooperation Programmes involving Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. These include the current round of PEACE and INTERREG Programmes under the European Regional Development Fund which are managed on a North-South basis by the Special EU Programmes Body, which reports to the North-South Ministerial Council.
On the specific issue of the operation of the European Court of Human Rights, the UK remains a party to the European Convention of Human Rights under which the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe are established. This Convention system is separate and distinct to the European Union, and the referendum result has no impact on the UK’s participation in that system.
The protection of human rights in Northern Ireland law, incorporating the European Convention on Human Rights, is one of the key principles underpinning the Good Friday Agreement. The Good Friday Agreement is clear that there is an obligation to incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights into Northern Ireland law and this is an ongoing obligation.
The Government has underlined this obligation in the context of British Government proposals to repeal the UK Human Rights Act, which incorporates the ECHR into domestic law and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government takes very seriously its responsibility to safeguard its institutions and principles including in the area of human rights. We will continue to work closely with the UK Government and with the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that the protection of human rights remains at the heart of civic life, politics and ongoing societal change in Northern Ireland.
