Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 November 2017
245. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures he is planning to ensure no emergence of regulatory divergence from those rules of the Internal Market and the customs union which are necessary for meaningful North-South co-operation, the all-island economy and protection of the Good Friday Agreement. [49074/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government's clear position is that we need to avoid any risks presented by regulatory divergence so as to ensure that North South cooperation, which is facilitated and supported by a shared EU regulatory framework on this island, can continue unimpeded after the UK leaves the EU. Therefore, the Government will continue to advocate that the best solution for Northern Ireland is for the UK to remain effectively in a Customs Union and Single Market arrangement.
If the UK continues to rule out this option, it must present alternative workable solutions that will ensure there is no hard border nor any border infrastructure on the island of Ireland. Avoiding regulatory divergence will be an important element in this regard. North/South cooperation is a central part of the Good Friday Agreement. The EU Commission Taskforce has recognised the central importance of North South Cooperation and states that it should be protected across all relevant sectors.
Officials have been carrying out detailed work over the last few weeks to map out areas of cooperation that operate on a North South basis on the island of Ireland and which rely on EU law and policies. There is still more work to be done in this area, but it has underlined the need to avoid risks presented by any regulatory divergence from the rules of the EU Single Market and Customs Union. North South cooperation has made an important contribution, through the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, to the improvement of people's lives on this island. We want to ensure that this cooperation can continue in a meaningful way.
The UK has a responsibility to ensure that it does not hinder or impede the continuation and development of North South cooperation by its withdrawal from the EU.
Ireland is working closely with the Commission Task Force to advance progress on Irish issues in the negotiations with the UK. The EU is united in the negotiations and fully behind the excellent work being done by its Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier, and his team.
