Seanad Committee publishes Final Report on the Impacts of Brexit

The Committee makes a total of 62 recommendations across a range of areas examined by the Senators with stakeholders in Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, the EU and the United States. The recommendations cover:

• Trade flows and customs;
• Infrastructure at Ireland’s ports;
• The Rules of Origin;
• The Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland;
• Citizens’ Rights in Northern Ireland Post Brexit;
• Democratic deficit in Northern Ireland;
• Mutual Recognition of Qualifications;
• Education and Research;
• Cross-Border Healthcare;
• Data Flows;
• Future Relations Between Ireland and the UK and the EU and the UK;
• Dispute resolution.

Committee Cathaoirleach, Senator Lisa Chambers said: “The Brexit referendum of 2016 resulted in a decision by the UK to withdraw from the EU thereby ending a deep relationship between both going back to 1973. The impacts of this decision continue to be felt by citizens and businesses today and this will continue for some years. The relationships between the EU and UK and Ireland and the UK have been altered significantly and it will take some time before we realise the full impact of this change.

“A core objective of the Committee was to provide a platform for community groups, businesses and citizens who were most impacted by Brexit and to allow them to tell their story and put forward solutions. I believe the Committee achieved this objective in its work.”

The Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union of the 26th Seanad was established in late-2020 with a primary focus to look at the impact of Brexit and in particular the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The Committee published an Interim Report in July 2021.

In October and November 2021, the Committee held a series of engagements with relevant stakeholders, particularly in relation to the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland and the UK Government suggesting it may trigger Article 16 of the Protocol. The Committee engaged with the following witnesses at these meetings:

• The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney TD;
• Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission;
• Members of the Northern Ireland Committee for the Executive Office at Stormont;
• The House of Lords European Affairs Sub-Committee on the Protocol;
• Congressman Richard Neal, Chair of the US House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee;
• Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI);
• Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs;
• Officials from Department of Health, HSE, Medicines Ireland.

Senator Chambers said: “A common theme throughout our engagements with the various stakeholders and the submissions received from witnesses to the Committee was the need to eliminate the uncertainty around the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. This uncertainty is having a chilling impact on business both in the short and the long term, with many potential investors waiting to see what might happen.

“The issues that persist around the protocol are ultimately solvable if there is political will. Negotiations continue through the Joint Committee and there have already been significant improvements to the operation of the protocol since it began operation. There is a basis to conclude negotiations and give certainty to the protocol which ultimately could see huge benefits for the people and businesses of Northern Ireland.”

Senator Chambers added: “The Committee acknowledges the concerns raised by citizens and elected political representatives in Northern Ireland regarding the implementation of the Trade and Co-Operation Agreement and the Withdrawal Agreement, in particular the Protocol. The concerns are genuine and must be addressed. These concerns have been articulated by the Committee to the Irish Government and the EU and have been reflected in the Committee’s recommendations.

“Having acknowledged these concerns, the Committee believes ultimately that they can only be addressed through trust and cooperation between both sides and a willingness to agree solutions. The Committee hopes that current negotiations deliver a resolution in recognition of the importance of maintaining a good relationship between Ireland and the UK and the UK and the EU.”

The Committee has 12 Members of Seanad Éireann: Senators Lisa Chambers (Cathaoirleach), Malcolm Byrne, Timmy Dooley, Eileen Flynn, Robbie Gallagher, Róisín Garvey, Tim Lombard, Vincent P Martin, Michael McDowell, Joe O’Reilly, Mark Wall and Niall Ó Donnghaile.

The Final Report on the Impacts of Brexit is available on the Oireachtas website.