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Brexit Negotiations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019

Tuesday, 15 January 2019

Questions (166, 167)

Micheál Martin

Question:

166. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on clarifying the EU backstop in the context of Brexit. [1426/19]

View answer

Micheál Martin

Question:

167. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken to his European counterparts individually or collectively since Christmas 2018 about Brexit or other issues of mutual concern. [1429/19]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 167 together.

The Taoiseach, my Government colleagues and I take every opportunity to engage with EU partners regarding issues arising from the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.

Recently, I had the opportunity to discuss these, and other matters, with the German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Heiko Maas, during his visit to Dublin on 9 January.

EU partners remain united behind the Withdrawal Agreement agreed with the UK and have been clear that it is not for reopening.

The European Council in December, which the Taoiseach attended, listened to the concerns raised by Prime Minister May and provided important clarifications and reassurances, regarding the backstop, while reiterating that the Agreement cannot be renegotiated.

Further important reassurances and clarifications were provided in a joint letter from the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and the President of the Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, to Prime Minister May, in an exchange of letters yesterday, 14 January 2019.

The Conclusions and joint letter reiterate the EU's wish to establish as close as possible a partnership with the UK, and to start negotiations on a future relationship agreement as soon as possible after the UK's withdrawal. Ireland strongly supports this commitment.

They make clear the EU's firm determination to work speedily on an agreement, that establishes alternative arrangements by the end of 2020, so that the backstop will not need to be triggered.

They underline that, if the backstop were triggered, it would apply temporarily, unless and until it is superseded by a subsequent agreement that ensures that a hard border is avoided. In such a case, the EU would use its best endeavours to negotiate and conclude expeditiously a subsequent agreement that would replace the backstop so that the backstop would only be in place for as long as strictly necessary.

This is also clearly reflected in the legal text of the Withdrawal Agreement, as well as the text of the political declaration on the future relationship.

As the Conclusions and joint letter demonstrate, the EU has been responsive to concerns raised by Prime Minister May, and has provided clarifications in order to facilitate the next steps of the process, while being clear that they are not in a position to agree to anything that changes or is inconsistent with the Withdrawal Agreement.

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