Micheál Martin
Question:139. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the draft treaty for the UK's withdrawal from the EU. [48107/18]
View answerTuesday, 20 November 2018
Questions (139)
Written answers
Last week agreement was reached between EU and UK negotiators on the text of the Withdrawal Agreement and an outline of the political declaration on the future relationship. On 14 November, the British Government decided that the draft Withdrawal Agreement, with the outline of the political declaration, was an acceptable basis on which to proceed.
Work continues on finalising the political declaration on the future EU-UK relationship. This will form the basis for negotiations after 29 March. We are committed to working with the UK, and our EU partners, to secure a future relationship that is as deep and comprehensive as possible.
An extraordinary European Council Summit will be held on 25 November so that the Agreement, together with the political declaration, can be endorsed. This is a very significant and welcome breakthrough in the Brexit process.
EU and UK negotiators have worked intensively over a long period to achieve this, and should be congratulated and thanked for their work. In particular, Michel Barnier and his team, have demonstrated extraordinary commitment and understanding. This outcome would not have been achieved without the unity and solidarity of our EU Member States and institutions.
The draft Agreement, notably the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, meets Ireland’s objectives.
It protects the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and the gains of the peace process. Importantly, nothing in the Agreement will prejudice the constitutional status of Northern Ireland and the principle of consent as set out in the Good Friday Agreement.
It translates the UK’s political commitment to avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland into a legal guarantee. It provides for a ‘backstop’ that will apply unless and until another solution is agreed. This means that there will be no hard border in any circumstances.
It underpins, in a dynamic way, continuing North/South cooperation and the all-island economy.
It provides for the maintenance of the Common Travel Area, ensuring that the arrangements by which Irish and British citizens can live, work and access services in each other’s countries will continue into the future.
It protects the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement on rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity and confirms that Irish citizens in Northern Ireland will continue to enjoy rights as EU citizens. It provides for a period of transition, which can be extended, in which preparations can be made for the future relationship between the EU and the UK.
While this is an important achievement, there is still considerable work to be done. Once the European Council has given its endorsement to the Agreement, it will be for the British and European Parliaments to consider and approve it according to their respective procedures.