Simon Coveney: We have a deal - The doubters were wrong
The EU’s commitment to Ireland has been confirmed, the Good Friday Agreement has been protected, and the border ‘backstop’ has been assured, says .
Aweek ago, we did not have a Brexit withdrawal agreement between the UK and the EU. Today, we do.
A week ago, commentators were still questioning whether the EU would abandon Ireland at the end of negotiations or connect our corporation tax rate to solidarity.
They were wrong.
A week ago, the opposition here questioned if the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, and I had buckled, because we were willing to allow a review of the backstop.
The text disproved their baseless claims: The backstop cannot be revoked without the agreement of the EU.
Last Wednesday marked a milestone in the Brexit process. The EU and the UK agreed a draft, legally binding withdrawal agreement. British prime minister Theresa May announced that this has been adopted collectively by her cabinet.
In Dublin, we stayed quiet on the text, initially, to allow the space for that decision to be reached.
The cabinet here, the Government benches, our diplomats, and close circle of advisors were determined that Ireland would not be blamed for political developments in London. Nobody credible can claim we patted ourselves on the back or leaked the progress. The facts show that we didn’t.
Nor has the Government ever claimed this milestone marked a job done. We communicated the development to the Irish people and we kept working.
I was very heartened to see that many commentators in Irish media, including in the pages of the Irish Examiner, actually read the agreement before making a judgement
The objectives of the Government, and the protection of the peace process, are achieved in this draft agreement.
The political agreement struck last December has now been given full legal expression. That strengthens our position.
The Taoiseach said so and Michel Barnier, the EU chief negotiator, said so, too, on Wednesday night. A shabby attempt by a minority in Fianna Fáil to play politics with this comment should stop now.
We have to press on. I left Cork last night for Brussels. I will today (Mon) meet Mr Barnier and, also, separately, all of the foreign ministers of the EU.
We have to prepare for an extraordinary summit next Sunday, in which the Taoiseach and his fellow leaders are expected to endorse the draft withdrawal agreement.
The Dáil will also get to debate the agreement later this week. That was something the Government did not need to do — it was our idea.
Brexit is the biggest threat to our country and it is not of our making. So it is right that all parties have their say in the Oireachtas.
The outstanding question is: What will then happen in Westminster? I do not have the answer and Irish politicians should be slow to interfere in the UK’s internal discussion.
What cannot be disputed, though, is that Ms May is the only person in UK politics with an agreement in her hand. She has shown a real determination and grit this past week
She is right in saying that the seven days ahead are pivotal and her media interviews and press conferences in the last few days, tell me that she is now talking directly to the British people about what is in this deal.
Mr Varadkar and Mrs May can show that they have performed their duty as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, while respecting its principle of consent.
Northern Ireland will leave the EU next March, with the rest of the UK, if this deal is ratified. The commentary of the Ulster Farmers’ Union, Confederation of British Industry Northern Ireland, and Chambers of Commerce Northern Ireland show this is a good deal for jobs, society, and trade in Northern Ireland.
The majority of political parties in Northern Ireland say the same. Those with a vote in Westminster should use it to vote for this agreement.
If the withdrawal agreement is the divorce, then the Irish backstop is the insurance policy for peace on this island. We never want to use the backstop. If this deal is ratified by all sides, work will immediately begin on a close, future trading and political relationship between the UK and the EU.
Today, I will be discussing with Mr Barnier what will be in that full framework for our future relationship.
This is all moving very quickly. However, we need to ensure that preparations do not slow down at home, just because of a breakthrough on the withdrawal agreement.
That is why, on Friday, I will be in Thomond Park, Limerick, with the lead Government departments and with 12 State agencies, for the latest ‘Getting Ireland Brexit Ready’ roadshow.
Brexit means change and businesses need to take the first steps in getting ready for this change. They are not alone and tens of millions of euro have been pumped into the supports and grants for this.
All of this information will be available on Friday or on the Brexit section of the Department of Foreign Affairs website. We have also produced sectoral podcasts on what to do for those who can’t attend events. On Friday 30th November the roadshow will be in Letterkenny.
The Cabinet will continue to get regular updates on contingency for all scenarios.
Our focus remains unrelenting in ensuring no hard border ever returns to this island.
We are never going to be found wanting in protecting the Good Friday Agreement, Ireland’s place in the EU, and peace on our island, throughout the Brexit process.
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