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Brexit Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 April 2019

Tuesday, 2 April 2019

Questions (76, 101, 102)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

76. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on discussions with the EU in relation to the Irish Border following a no-deal Brexit. [14909/19]

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Lisa Chambers

Question:

101. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of the discussions and-or meetings with the EU Commission and-or EU officials in relation to EU requirements of Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit regarding protection of the Single Market and potential customs checks on the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15305/19]

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Lisa Chambers

Question:

102. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which he plans to meet Ireland’s obligations regarding the Single Market and the potential requirement for customs checks in the event of a no-deal Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15306/19]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 76, 101 and 102 together.

The Government remains focused on securing the Withdrawal Agreement, which would ensure an orderly UK withdrawal which protects the Good Friday Agreement, includng by providing a guarantee on avoiding a hard border. Ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement will enable both sides to negotiate a future relationship agreement, with the aim of avoiding tariffs and quotas, and to help protect the thriving trading relationship between Ireland and the UK.

However, the Government continues to advance preparedness and contingencies measures for all eventualities, including a no deal Brexit. The Comprehensive Contingency Action Plan published in December, and updated in January, sets out the whole-of-Government response to implement measures to mitigate the impact of a no deal Brexit. Ireland is committed to protecting the integrity of the Single Market and Customs Union, membership of which is a core element of our economic strategy.

Work is well advanced in respect of our approach in a no deal scenario. We are working with the European Commission and our EU partners to ensure that any potential disruption as a result of necessary additional checks and controls at our ports and airports needed to protect the Single Market is kept to a minimum. This includes the development of temporary infrastructure at ports and airports. We are also advancing plans for permanent infrastructure which will provide for additional controls on a longer term basis.

My department, including officials at embassies London and Paris, stands ready to assist Irish traders and private citizens who might experience problems at UK or French ports, should there be a disorderly UK withdrawal.

Regarding trade with Northern Ireland, Ireland and the EU are at one in our determination to do all we can, deal or no deal, to avoid the need for a border and to protect the peace process. As co-guarantors, the Irish and British Governments will continue to have our obligations under the Good Friday Agreement, and to ensure peace and stability in Northern Ireland.

Our discussions with the European Commission are ongoing, and have intensified on how to avoid a hard border in the case of no deal, while also protecting the integrity of the Single Market and Customs Union and Ireland’s place in them. All options are being discussed within the rules of the Customs Union and Single Market.

Without a Withdrawal Agreement, avoiding a hard border would become more complex and challenging. There are no easy answers. If the UK decides to leave without the Withdrawal Agreement, a short term, temporary solution for trade will be required. Such a solution will be suboptimal compared to the backstop, and, while we are absolutely determined to avoid physical infrastructure at the border, it would be difficult to avoid serious disruption to the functioning of the all-island economy. The seamless trade we enjoy today would not be possible, and the benefits of the backstop for businesses in Northern Ireland will be lost, at least in the short term.

For any sustainable long term solution, it would be impossible to escape the need for close alignment with the Single Market and Customs Union. The UK’s own no deal papers say that they will quickly need talks with the EU and Ireland to get a deal to avoid a hard border. For us, the backstop will be the starting point for these discussions.

I would state again, however, that the Withdrawal Agreement, negotiated by the UK and the EU, provides the best way to resolve all these issues, and to provide certainty as we negotiate and put in place the deep, ambitious agreement which will provide the foundations for our future relationship.

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