Seanad Committee to meet with Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission, for discussions on Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland

The Committee of Senators will meet at 2pm in Committee Room 4 of Leinster House and will be joined remotely by Commissioner Šefčovič, who is Vice-President for Inter-institutional Relations and Foresight and the EU’s negotiator with the UK Government.

Speaking ahead of Monday’s meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Senator Lisa Chambers said: “I very much welcome the opportunity to engage with Commissioner Šefčovič at this crucial time in the Brexit process. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the UK Government’s approach to the withdrawal agreement and potential unilateral actions they might take. There is genuine concern in Ireland around what will happen if the UK Government triggers Article 16 and what this could mean for citizens and businesses here on the Island.

“Commissioner Šefčovič, in his work as the EU negotiator, has always ensured that issues relating to Ireland and Northern Ireland have remained top of the agenda. He is a friend of Ireland and I want to acknowledge and thank him for the tremendous work he has undertaken in trying to address issues relating to the Northern Ireland Protocol. He has engaged extensively with all stakeholders and communities in Northern Ireland and has a deep understanding of the issues on the island of Ireland.

“It will be interesting and timely to get an update from Commissioner Šefčovič on the current state of play in the negotiations and how he sees matters progressing,”

The meeting in Committee Room 4 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.