Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Brexit Negotiations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 October 2018

Thursday, 4 October 2018

Ceisteanna (16)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

16. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of the backstop agreement between the EU and the UK Government with regard to ensuring no hard border on the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40103/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The European Commission’s proposals on the ‘backstop’ are set out in the Draft Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, which forms part of the overall draft Withdrawal Agreement published in February. It is available on the European Commission’s website and on the Government’s Brexit website.

This draft text serves as the basis on which negotiations have been conducted so far. It sets out the basic elements for a legally operable ‘backstop’ which avoids a hard border on this island and protects the integrity of the EU Single Market.

This reflects the commitments on avoiding a hard border and protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts, made by Prime Minister May in December 2017, and again in March.

In an effort to finalise negotiations, Michel Barnier has spoken of efforts to “de-dramatise” the backstop. These would focus on the technical aspects of the backstop in terms of the location and modalities of the controls necessary to protect the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union, in the event that the backstop should ever need to be implemented. This would maintain the key principle of the backstop, to maintain the invisible border as it is today. Mr Barnier briefed EU leaders at the informal European Council Summit in Salzburg and received full and unanimous support for his approach, from all partners, including Ireland.

Last month, Prime Minister May announced that the UK would now bring forward their own proposals for a backstop arrangement. The Government welcomes this announcement. We have long called for the UK to engage fully with this issue. However, time is short, and it is important that these proposals are tabled with the Commission Taskforce as soon as possible, to allow negotiations make progress before the October European Council.

Although the text of the backstop may be subject to change, our objectives do not. Our preference is still for an overall EU-UK relationship which would resolve all issues. However, it remains essential that a legally operable backstop is agreed which provides certainty that a hard border will be avoided in any circumstances. Therefore it cannot be temporary and must be in place unless and until another solution is found. This position is supported and shared by our fellow EU27 Member States, and by the European Commission.

Barr
Roinn