Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 September 2017
14. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he will take to maintain and enhance British Irish relations, in view of Brexit and the consequences it will have on the relationship between the two countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39848/17]
View answerThe Government has made clear that we do not want the United Kingdom to leave the EU, the Single Market, or the Customs Union, but ultimately that is a decision for the people of the United Kingdom and we respect the democratic outcome of the referendum in June of last year.
Ireland maintains a strong and constructive relationship with both the UK and with our EU partners. We are fully committed to maintaining and enhancing both relationships, and we will also work to secure the closest possible positive relationship between the UK and the European Union.
During the Taoiseach’s visit to London in May of this year, his first official overseas visit in office, Prime Minister May spoke of her desire to establish a “close and special partnership” with Ireland after Brexit. Even though we share this objective, there can be no room for complacency.
Numerous channels will continue to exist for Irish-British engagement and both Governments continue to make extensive and effective use of these. The Good Friday Agreement provides for important institutional cooperation on an east-West basis through the British-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference (BIIGC) and the British Irish Council (BIC).
Other channels of contact and cooperation have developed over the years as the relationship between these islands has grown closer. For example, in 2012, a process was established involving summits between the Taoiseach and the UK Prime Minister, supported by a Joint Work Programme managed at official level by the heads of all government departments in both London and Dublin. In addition, the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA) brings together elected representatives from the Oireachtas, Westminster, the Northern Ireland Assembly, and the Scottish and Welsh devolved assemblies.
Deputies will also be aware of ongoing contact between Government Ministers and their UK counterparts across a range of policy areas. In recent months, a number of Ministers have engaged with their UK counterparts, including the Tánaiste, the Minister for Finance, and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. These are just some examples of ongoing ministerial engagement and similar engagement will continue routinely.
In addition, there have been a number of successful high-level visits in recent years, most notably the state visit by President Higgins to the UK in 2014 and the state visit by Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland in 2011. Most recently, President Higgins travelled to Dumfries House in Scotland at the invitation of the Prince of Wales. This follows the visit of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall to Ireland earlier this year, their third visit in as many years.
The Embassy of Ireland in London will remain our largest bilateral Embassy in the world, and this year two additional diplomatic officers have been assigned to the Embassy. The Consulate General in Edinburgh was also assigned an additional diplomat in 2015. ‘Team Ireland’ enjoys a significant footprint in Britain with our trade, tourism, and investment agencies continuing to make a positive impact. With 600,000 Irish-born, and as many as one in four of Irish descent living in Britain, the Irish community continues to be recognised for its positive contribution to modern British society. In this context, there are over 60,000 Irish-born Directors of British companies.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also works very closely with the British Embassy in Dublin, as well as British agencies based in Ireland. These help to foster British-Irish relationships at home and organisations like the British-Irish Chamber of Commerce are growing rapidly, showing the importance of this relationship to businesses in Ireland.
The work of both governments marking recent centenary anniversaries in the spirit of historical accuracy, mutual respect, inclusiveness, and reconciliation reflects the courteous and constructive British-Irish relationship that has developed over many decades. The commemoration of 1916, the Battle of the Somme and the joint memorial at Messines in June of this year have all contributed to this. We are intent on ensuring this relationship continues to improve into the future.
It is clear that there are a wide range of arrangements in place to allow for constructive and mutually-beneficial dialogue with the UK and the continued strengthening of the British-Irish relationship. However, as our paths diverge, I am mindful of the need to ensure that we protect the progress made over the last few decades since we joined the EU together and to continue to develop the positive relationship we enjoy today.
