Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 February 2018
86. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or his officials are involved with changing the North-South Ministerial Council in the context of Brexit; and if it is being considered. [6004/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) has a crucial role to play in addressing the all-island impacts and challenges that are raised by Brexit.
There has already been very valuable and important engagement through the NSMC, in particular at the Plenary meetings of the Council on 4 July 2016 and 18 November 2016, where there was agreement on common principles for dealing with Brexit on an all-island basis and on optimising North-South planning in the phases preceding and following Brexit. The Council also agreed that work should be taken forward through bilateral discussions within the NSMC at sectoral level, as well as through a high-level working group comprising senior officials from the Government and from the Northern Ireland Executive Office.
The Government is most anxious that the NSMC be able to resume and progress this vital work. Through the NSMC, the Government and Northern Ireland Executive can work together at an institutional level, as provided for under the Good Friday Agreement, to address the all-island implications of Brexit, where so many interests are shared, North and South.
The work that the NSMC progressed in this respect in 2016 was very valuable and it has served as an important guide for the Government as we worked through Phase One of the EU-UK negotiations last year to secure the interests of Ireland, North and South. The role of the NSMC in addressing the all-island implications of Brexit and enabling coordinated approaches by the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive has been clearly established. In this context, there is no consideration being given to any changes to the North South Ministerial Council, which as an institution of the Good Friday Agreement has very important and clearly-established functions and responsibilities, which have been agreed to by all parties to the Peace Process founded on the Agreement.
The Joint Report agreed by the EU and UK negotiators on 8 December acknowledged that cooperation between Ireland and Northern Ireland is a central part of the Good Friday Agreement, and that the UK departure from the Union gives rise to substantial challenges to the maintenance and development of North-South cooperation. The UK has accordingly committed to protecting and supporting continued North-South cooperation across the full range of contexts and frameworks of cooperation, including the continued operation of the North-South implementation bodies.
The Government will continue to work with EU partners and the European Commission Task Force to ensure that the Phase One commitments are delivered in full and that our interests, and those of the island as a whole, are advanced in the EU position in Phase Two, including the protection of North/South co-operation.
The Government wishes to see the NSMC urgently resume its work across all sectors, including the engagement on Brexit mandated last year, which can further inform the approach of Ireland, of the UK and of the European Union on the Ireland-specific issues, as Phase 2 of EU-UK negotiations progresses this year.
I am intensively engaged at present, working with the Secretary for Northern Ireland, to support agreement between the political parties that will allow for the formation of a new Executive and the resumption of the North South Ministerial Council. There remain challenges for the parties but I am convinced that an agreement can be reached between those parties, each of which wants to see the devolved institutions operating.
A new Executive will be able to speak for Northern Ireland as the UK progresses its approach to the Article 50 negotiations, and the North South Ministerial Council will be able to resume its important work, including addressing the all-island issues and concerns that are raised by Brexit.
