Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
34. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with the EU and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to the establishment of an EU office in Belfast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9220/20]
View answerThe Taoiseach, my cabinet colleagues and I take every opportunity to engage with EU partners and, as appropriate UK counterparts, to advance Ireland’s priorities in the context of the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
Over recent weeks, I have had contacts with EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier, UK Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove, and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis, including on matters arising from the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. I have stressed the importance of ensuring the full implementation of the Protocol, as agreed.
The question of an EU office in Belfast was discussed at the EU-UK Specialised Committee on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, which took place on 30 April. Ireland participated in this meeting as part of the EU's delegation.
Article 12 of the Protocol provides for EU representatives to be present for activities relating to the application and implementation of the Protocol.
I hope, and am confident, that agreement can be reached through the Joint and Specialised Committees on how the EU involvement envisaged in the Protocol can operate in an appropriate and sensible way.
Those EU-UK Committees provide the appropriate framework to reach agreement on this issue. In that regard I hope to see early and detailed technical engagement between the UK and the EU, in follow up to the UK paper published on 20 May.
