I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 46 together.
The Good Friday Agreement is the overarching framework for deepening peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland and has also contributed to increased economic prosperity on the island as a whole. As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government is determined to ensure that all aspects of the Agreement are fully respected throughout the process of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, and thereafter.
Our EU partners are fully aware and supportive of the importance of respecting the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and protecting the gains of the peace process. On Monday 4 September, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade met with Michel Barnier, the EU’s Chief Negotiator on Brexit, and his team. It was agreed that, while good progress was made in the last round of negotiations on the Common Travel Area, more detailed work is required on protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and the peace process, including in regard to North South cooperation and to avoiding a hard border, as well as other issues such as protecting the EU rights of Irish citizens in Northern Ireland. Overall, Minister Coveney welcomed the indications that EU and UK objectives on the Irish issues are converging but noted that the UK needs to back this up with tangible commitments that can pave the way for practical solutions.
Following this meeting, on 7 September, the European Commission Taskforce published a paper on “Guiding Principles for the Dialogue on Ireland/Northern Ireland”, building on the European Council Guidelines agreed earlier this year. This paper reflects the priority Irish issues identified by the Government, including the complex issue of the border, and makes it clear that it is the UK’s responsibility to propose workable solutions in this regard.
In all of our engagements, the Government has laid particular emphasis on Ireland’s objective of protecting the gains of the peace process and avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland. The Government has been clear on the unique nature of the circumstances on the island of Ireland and this point has been echoed by Mr. Barnier.
The Government is also committed to minimising the impact of Brexit on trade and the economy. While imaginative and flexible solutions will be required to address the complex issues associated with the border, the Government is clear that we will only pursue solutions that are compatible with our aim of protecting the integrity of the Single Market and Ireland’s place in it. Our membership of the EU, including the Single Market and Customs Union, has been central to the success of our open, competitive economy and has been the foundation for much of the economic and social progress we have made over the last four decades. Ireland will continue to work with our EU partners as a fully committed member of the European Union.
The Government has also been clear in its desire to maintain the closest possible trading relationship with the UK after it leaves the EU. Questions regarding the future relationship between the EU and the UK are a matter for the second phase of negotiations, and discussions on these can only begin once sufficient progress has been made on the three baskets of issues identified for the first phase of the EU-UK negotiations.
We are not under any illusions about the complexity of the UK exit from the EU. We have taken important steps to prepare our economy, through Budget 2017, the Action Plan for Jobs 2017 and our Trade and Investment Strategy. More work is being carried out in this area. Our enterprise agencies continue to work with companies to help them deal with Brexit – making them more competitive, diversifying their market exposure and up-skilling their teams.
The Government will continue to be proactive in its objectives to minimise the impact on the island of Ireland of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
