Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their priorities in the forthcoming negotiations in Brussels on a legally binding fallback plan to keep Northern Ireland in a common regulatory area with the EU.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Prime Minister reaffirmed her commitments to the Northern Ireland and Ireland border in her speech at Mansion House, recognising the unique circumstances in Northern Ireland, and our shared commitments to avoiding a hard border. We have always been clear from the outset that the best way to achieve this is through the overall relationship between the UK and the EU.
As the Prime Minister set out in her letter to Donald Tusk, we have agreed that, at least, the so-called ‘backstop’ option should be translated in legally binding form in to the Withdrawal Agreement. There are some aspects of the Commission’s proposals which we agree with - particularly the preservation of the Common Travel Area. The Prime Minister has made our position on the other elements of the draft text clear, and said that we could never accept this. There is agreement that the scope of the issues covered by the draft Protocol - focusing on goods and agriculture - reflects the right set of issues.
Following March European Council, the UK and EU negotiating teams are now engaged in an intensive round of discussions to negotiate in detail on all the issues and scenarios set out in the Joint Report.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the future significance of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland if the UK leaves the EU customs union.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have been clear throughout that we are firmly committed to avoiding any physical infrastructure on the land border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. The principles in the Joint Report from the UK and EU negotiators are a welcome agreement on this crucial issue. We have reached a balanced set of commitments that reiterate both our commitment to avoid a hard land border, and our clear position on preserving the constitutional and economic integrity of the UK.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the response by Baroness Goldie on 21 March (HL Deb, cols 248–252) concerning their commitment to fully involving Gibraltar to ensure that its priorities are properly taken into account as the UK prepares to leave the EU, what plans they have to inform Parliament of the impact on Northern Ireland of any assurances given to the people of Gibraltar before and during negotiations with the EU.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
Ministers in the Department for Exiting the European Union are fully engaged on issues related to Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland keeps closely engaged on a range of issues of mutual interest and concern with Northern Ireland’s political parties and independents, including on the subject of the UK’s exit from the EU. This engagement includes parties that opted not to join the outgoing Executive.
The Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations (JMC(EN)) has met four times to understand and consider each administration’s priorities; to seek to agree a UK approach to, and objectives for, negotiations, and to consider proposals put forward by the devolved administrations. The Joint Ministerial Committee is also meeting more frequently in plenary format: the Prime Minister has chaired two meetings since the referendum. Representatives from the DUP and Sinn Fein both attended JMC(P) on Monday 30th January and have attended every JMC(EN). The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland continues to undertake discussions with all of the main political parties and independents in Northern Ireland.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Prime Minister are fully committed to ensuring that the unique interests of Northern Ireland are protected and advanced.
Regarding engagement with Parliament, we will keep the House informed throughout the entire process of the UK's exit from the European Union; and we have committed to keeping the UK Parliament at least as well informed as the European Parliament as negotiations progress.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the response by Baroness Goldie on 21 March (HL Deb, cols 248–252) concerning their commitment to fully involving Gibraltar to ensure that its priorities are properly taken into account as the UK prepares to leave the EU, whether they intend to make a similar commitment to the Northern Ireland Executive.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
Ministers in the Department for Exiting the European Union are fully engaged on issues related to Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland keeps closely engaged on a range of issues of mutual interest and concern with Northern Ireland’s political parties and independents, including on the subject of the UK’s exit from the EU. This engagement includes parties that opted not to join the outgoing Executive.
The Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations (JMC(EN)) has met four times to understand and consider each administration’s priorities; to seek to agree a UK approach to, and objectives for, negotiations, and to consider proposals put forward by the devolved administrations. The Joint Ministerial Committee is also meeting more frequently in plenary format: the Prime Minister has chaired two meetings since the referendum. Representatives from the DUP and Sinn Fein both attended JMC(P) on Monday 30th January and have attended every JMC(EN). The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland continues to undertake discussions with all of the main political parties and independents in Northern Ireland.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Prime Minister are fully committed to ensuring that the unique interests of Northern Ireland are protected and advanced.
Regarding engagement with Parliament, we will keep the House informed throughout the entire process of the UK's exit from the European Union; and we have committed to keeping the UK Parliament at least as well informed as the European Parliament as negotiations progress.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the similarities in land border issues to be taken into consideration in relation to (1) Spain and Gibraltar, and (2) Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, in the forthcoming negotiations with the EU.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
We have been engaging with the Devolved Administrations, including the Northern Ireland Executive, and Gibraltar to understand their priorities and interests, and will continue to involve them as we enter negotiations.
We have established a Joint Ministerial Committee (European Union Negotiations) for the Devolved Administrations, and are engaging with Gibraltar through the new Joint Ministerial Committee (Gibraltar European Union Negotiations). The latter will allow us to take account of the particular interests that Gibraltar has, given that the EU Treaties apply to a large extent in Gibraltar, with some exceptions (for example, Gibraltar is not part of the Customs Union).
Regarding the Common Travel Area between the United Kingdom and Ireland, there is a strong commitment between the United Kingdom government, the Irish government and the Northern Ireland Executive to protect the current arrangement. We will work with the new Northern Ireland Executive, the Irish Government and the Crown Dependencies to deliver a practical solution that allows for the maintenance of the Common Travel Area, while protecting the integrity of the United Kingdom’s immigration system.
We understand the importance of a well functioning Gibraltar-Spain border, and stand ready to work with the Government of Gibraltar and the Government of Spain to ensure the border continues to function well.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consultations they have had with the government of the Republic of Ireland on a special arrangement for the land border between the EU and the UK as a result of Brexit.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
There has been a range of engagement with the Irish Government, including a meeting between the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach in London on the 26 July and meetings between the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU and Irish Ministers in Dublin on 8 September. We have had a Common Travel Area between the UK and the Republic of Ireland many years before either country was a member of the European Union. There is a strong will in the UK Government, the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to preserve it, and it remains our intention to do so.