Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 July 2017
414. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the meetings he has had with the EU Commission regarding the objective of protecting the Good Friday Agreement after Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36247/17]
View answerI attended the General Affairs Council (Art. 50) on Tuesday 20 June. At this meeting, Michel Barnier, the EU’s Chief Negotiator, informed Ministers of the outcome of the first round of the negotiations with the UK on its withdrawal from the EU.
I also met with Mr Barnier for a bilateral exchange on Brexit and on the EU’s position on the issues specific to Ireland as set out in the European Council Guidelines of 29 April and the negotiating Directives of 22 May. I thanked Mr Barnier for his recent visit to Ireland, which included travelling to the border region, and for his continuing support and understanding.
We had a very positive and constructive discussion which clearly confirmed that addressing issues unique to Ireland will be a key EU priority in the negotiations. I reiterated the Government’s position in relation to protecting the gains of the peace process and ensuring that all provisions of the Good Friday Agreement are fully respected and upheld. In particular, I emphasised the importance of the European Council’s recognition that “in view of the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland, flexible and imaginative solutions will be required, including with the aim of avoiding a hard border, while respecting the integrity of the Union legal order.”
During our discussion, I expressed my support for the handling of Irish issues as set out in the Terms of Reference agreed between the EU and the UK on 19 June whereby the issues unique to Ireland will be the subject of a dialogue at the level of the two most senior members of the respective negotiating teams. This again underlines the urgency and importance with which Irish issues are being addressed. I also underlined my willingness and that of my officials to continue constructive and regular engagement with Mr. Barnier and his team at the European Commission as these complex negotiations progress.
As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government is determined to ensure that all aspects of the Agreement are fully respected through the process of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, and thereafter. Our priority is to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement and the overall integrity of the settlement is not in any way disturbed by the UK’s exit from the European Union.
As a result of the intensive political and diplomatic engagement by the Government over the last year and more, all of our EU partners and the EU institutions are fully aware and supportive of the importance of respecting the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and of supporting and protecting the achievements, benefits and commitments of the peace process. This is expressly reflected in the European Council’s Guidelines and the Negotiating Directives to the Commission for the EU-UK negotiations.
Protecting the gains of the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts was reaffirmed as a key priority for both sides in the negotiations, by Michel Barnier, on behalf of the European Commission, and by David Davis, on behalf of the British Government, on the conclusion of the second round of the EU-UK negotiations on 20 July. Constructive engagement and a strong political willingness on all sides, will remain essential to achieving this shared objective through the withdrawal agreement.
The Government will continue to work very closely with Michel Barnier and his team at the European Commission, to ensure that sufficient progress is made on the Peace Process and the other Irish specific issues in phase one of the negotiations.
Together with my colleagues across Government, I will continue to work to ensure that Ireland’s priorities in these negotiations – including in relation to the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement – are delivered .
