Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 November 2022
127. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the interaction that he has had with his British counterpart regarding the Northern Ireland Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57650/22]
View answerIt is welcome that, for the first time in six months, the UK has re-engaged in talks with the EU on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. I am encouraged that the British side has indicated that it wishes to reach a negotiated outcome and it is vital that their officials are now given a clear mandate to make substantive progress.
I have had sustained and constructive engagement with the British Government on the implementation of the Protocol in recent weeks. Earlier this month, I met with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris in Belfast and in October I travelled to London to meet with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. The Taoiseach also met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the margins of the British-Irish Council earlier this month and Minister of State Byrne met with his British Government counterpart, Leo Docherty, last week.
Our consistent message in these exchanges has been to urge the British Government to engage positively with the EU and to remain focused on the practical, day-to-day issues of concern to people and businesses in Northern Ireland, in particular around the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. We have also welcomed the extension of the period during which the Northern Ireland parties can form an Executive. The position of the Government is consistent on this: we want to see an Executive formed and, separately, we want to see early substantive progress in EU-UK talks.
Only jointly agreed solutions can deliver the long-term certainty and stability needed by people and businesses in Northern Ireland to maximise the benefits of the Protocol. With the recent resumption in EU-UK talks, there is now a window of opportunity to reach joint solutions on the issues of concern to people in Northern Ireland.
