Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 March 2018
70. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the length of time given to the transition period for Brexit; if he regards this as a sufficient amount of time in view of the complexity of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14208/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra77. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the contributions, proposals or changes his Department made to the EU proposal for a transition period and the proposed future relationship of the UK with the EU. [5755/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 77 together.
From the start of the EU-UK negotiations Ireland has been to fore in arguing for a transitional arrangement that ensures an orderly UK withdrawal from the Union, minimises disruption for citizens and businesses and leads to an ambitious and comprehensive future relationship agreement.
Through the General Affairs Council (Art. 50) and its preparatory bodies, I and my officials have been actively working with our EU27 partners and the European Commission to shape the EU’s approach, including the preparation of the supplemental negotiating Directives on transition by the GAC (Art.50) adopted on 29 January. Based on these Directives, Michel Barnier reported to the GAC (Art.50) on 20 March that agreement had been reached at the level of negotiators on the text of transition in the draft Withdrawal Agreement. The European Council on 23 March welcomed this agreement but made clear that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed and that all issues in the draft Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, need to be agreed to ensure progress in the negotiations.
I welcome that the terms reflected in the draft Withdrawal Agreement are fully consistent with the EU’s objective of agreeing a transition period based on the status quo. This is an approach that I strongly advocated as it will provide certainty and limit disruption for our citizens and businesses. Under such an arrangement the UK will be expected to continue to apply the full EU acquis.
As concerns the duration of such a transition, the Government agrees that in the interests of long term certainty, and to accelerate agreement on the future relationship agreement, it must be time bound. This is the overall view of both the EU and of the UK. Therefore a date of 31 December 2020 has been set for the end of the transition period and this has been reflected in the text of the draft Withdrawal Agreement. This also takes account of the EU’s budgetary processes and the fact that the current Multiannual Financial Framework will conclude at the end of 2020. But equally, as the negotiations progress, the overriding objective on both sides must be to avoid any gaps and any cliff edge effects. It is therefore welcome that the General Affairs Council has agreed to keep this under constant review, taking account of developments in the Brexit negotiations. This provides the flexibility required.
