Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
759. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union, and the European Atomic Energy Community, will be formally ratified by the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14633/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community was signed on 24 January 2020. It was approved by the European Parliament on 29 January 2020 and adopted by the Council on 30 January 2020. The instruments of ratification were deposited on 31 January 2020. The Agreement entered into force at 11 p.m. on 31 January 2020.
The EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) was signed on 30 December 2020 – and has provisionally applied since 1 January 2021. The European Union process for ratification is ongoing and a number of steps are still required, including a vote of the European Parliament expressing its consent. This vote has not yet been scheduled. The period of provisional application of the TCA was recently extended to 30 April, to ensure adequate time to complete various required steps.
