Patricia Ryan
Ceist:361. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he will take to protect the Northern Ireland protocol in the Brexit withdrawal agreement. [23518/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 15 September 2020
Ceisteanna (361, 371)
Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:371. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps that will be taken by the European Union should the United Kingdom breach the terms of the withdrawal agreement and in particular, the protocol on Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23616/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 361 and 371 together.
The Withdrawal Agreement, of which the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland is an integral part, is an international agreement, as agreed between the EU and the UK in October 2019.
Its implementation is an obligation under international law. Any unilateral attempt to undermine the Withdrawal Agreement, or a unilateral departure from its terms, would be a very concerning and serious step.
This is a fundamental issue of trust between the EU and the UK.
With regard to the elements of the UK’s Internal Market Bill, the Taoiseach raised Ireland’s concerns - which are grave - directly with Prime Minister Johnson, on Wednesday, 9 September, the day that the Bill was published.
Ireland participated in the EU-UK Joint Committee on Implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement on 10 September, and further raised our concerns. At that meeting, EU Co-Chair and Commission Vice President Šefcovic urged the British Government to remove the problematic measures from the Bill.
I recall, as Deputies will be very well aware, that the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland is specifically designed to protect the Good Friday Agreement and the achievements of the peace process, including avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland.
It is designed to operate in all circumstances, including in the absence of an agreement on the Future Relationship between the EU and the UK.
The UK’s Internal Market Bill, if it were implemented, would seriously damage and erode political trust between the EU and the UK, and would undermine stability in Northern Ireland.
The Protocol was the product of long, difficult, detailed negotiations and represents a delicately balanced compromise by all sides. It was agreed because of the multitude of complex and sensitive issues that the UK’s departure from the EU raised for the island of Ireland. Its safeguards, therefore, remain essential in all circumstances.
We urge the British Government to reconsider their approach to the Internal Market Bill, in line with Commission Vice President Šefcovic’s request, and work to repair the trust that is needed to successfully and faithfully implement the Withdrawal Agreement and Protocol.
A positive resolution to this issue is in all our interests.
We remain in close and ongoing contact on this with our EU colleagues.