Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2019
142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he expects to be in a position to ensure that trade between Northern Ireland and the European Union can be facilitated notwithstanding Brexit in view of the need to ensure economic prosperity on the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4401/19]
View answerNorth-South economic and social cooperation has benefited people across the island and supported the development of an all-island economy that has enhanced the prosperity of all. Protecting these gains is not just about ensuring frictionless trade; it is also about facilitating peoples’ lives and livelihoods. Fundamentally, this is about peace, reconciliation and prosperity.
Protecting the all-island economy has been a major priority for the Government throughout the Brexit negotiations. The issue was addressed in paragraph 49 of the December 2017 EU-UK Joint Report, in the context of North-South Cooperation and protection of the Good Friday Agreement. The Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland within the Withdrawal Agreement protects the Good Friday Agreement and gains of the peace process in all its parts. This includes underpinning continuing North-South Cooperation and protecting the all island economy, including by maintaining the Single Electricity Market.
North-South cooperation and cross-border trade has grown significantly in the years since the Good Friday Agreement, strengthening a growing prosperity which both supports and is supported by the peace process. Underpinned by the current shared EU regulatory framework, cross-border trade at present represents the first export market for 73% of Northern Ireland’s small and medium-sized companies. More than 7,000 businesses trade from Northern Ireland across the island of Ireland, supporting over 165,000 jobs.
Recent research has also shown a high degree of integration of the economies North and South, including in supply chains and trade in intermediary products. This underlines the importance of securing an outcome in the Brexit negotiations that facilitates the continuation of the all-island economy as it functions today. This objective goes beyond trade and is to protect the Good Friday agreement in all its parts and the gains of the peace process. Peace and prosperity are mutually reinforcing, and cross-border trade is an important element in supporting jobs and building prosperity.
Outreach to Northern Ireland’s economic and business sector continues, and my Department is facilitating North-South relationship-building between business groups.
InterTradeIreland, one of the North-South Implementation Bodies, helps small businesses explore new cross-border markets, develop new products, processes and services and become investor-ready. It also offers practical cross-border business funding, information, advice and support to SMEs across the island. In addition, InterTradeIreland has also developed programmes aimed at helping SMEs to plan for Brexit.
The Withdrawal Agreement remains the best option and the only agreement on the table that avoids a hard border on the island of Ireland and protects the Good Friday Agreement. Our ambition throughout these negotiations has been to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement can continue to operate in all its parts after the UK leaves the Union, and the Government is committed that the gains and benefits of peace for people North and South, and East and West, can be protected.
