Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 February 2019
33. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which he plans to ensure that all rights afforded to persons in Northern Ireland under the Good Friday Agreement are upheld in full even in the event of a no-deal Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9705/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government remains firmly of the view that the only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal from the EU is to ratify the Withdrawal Agreement as endorsed by the European Council and agreed with the UK Government. The Protocol includes a commitment that "The United Kingdom shall ensure that no diminution of rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity as set out in that part of the 1998 Agreement. results from its withdrawal from the Union." The Protocol also confirms that Irish citizens in Northern Ireland "will continue to enjoy, exercise and have access to rights, opportunities and benefits" that come with EU citizenship.
However, under any scenario for the UK’s exit from the European Union, the obligations and commitments of the Irish and UK Governments under the Good Friday Agreement remain and the Government will continue to work with the UK Government as co-guarantor to secure the full implementation of the Agreement.
In this context, the Government has noted and welcomes the commitment by Prime Minister May in her speech in Belfast on 5 February, that the British Government "will uphold the rights enshrined in the Belfast Agreement for all the people of Northern Ireland, right across the whole community. This includes upholding commitments around mutual respect, religious liberties, equality of opportunity, tolerance and rights." The Government also noted and welcomes the Prime Minister's acknowledgement that "the birth right to identify and be accepted as British, Irish or both, and to hold both British and Irish citizenship is absolutely central to the Agreement." The Prime Minister also recognised serious concerns raised about how UK immigration rules treat citizens exercising their right under the Good Friday Agreement to be Irish and that, in some cases, people have encountered difficulties in securing their rights as Irish citizens to bring family members to reside with them. The British Prime Minister said that she has asked the Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to “review the issues around citizenship urgently to deliver a long term solution consistent with the letter and spirit” of the Good Friday Agreement.
These are welcome commitments and acknowledgements by Prime Minister May. I have raised with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the need for the citizenship and identity provisions of the Good Friday Agreement to be fully taken account of in all relevant policy areas, and there has been ongoing engagement between our officials, including through the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat.
The Government will continue to engage with the UK Government as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement on this important issue in any scenario.
