Vote on NI Protocol could exacerbate tensions, Oireachtas committee finds

The Assembly vote on the Northern Ireland Protocol in four years time has the potential to exacerbate tensions in the region given it is already seen as a campaign issue, a special Oireachtas Committee has found.

In an interim report published on Thursday, The Seanad Special Select Committee on Brexit concluded, however, that the Protocol and the withdrawal agreement must be protected and increased engagements between political bodies North and South would “be greatly beneficial” in ensuring the impact of Brexit is minimal.

“The Committee agreed that while there is a community that does not support the Protocol, it must be acknowledged that a significant proportion of businesses and communities in Northern Ireland do support it,” it has stated.

Chaired by Fianna Fáil Senator Lisa Chambers, the Committee held a series of public hearings from December 2020 until June 2021 and heard from dozens of individuals including EU Commissioner Mairéad McGuinness, Government ministers, and the new leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Douglas Beattie.

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In the key chapter on the protocol, Committee members agreed that one of the most important benefits was that it avoided a physical border on the island of Ireland.

“However, the Committee acknowledged that the border in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and Britain that now exists is not the ideal outcome and acknowledged the views of Mr Beattie who highlighted that the Protocol, from a Unionist standpoint, damages the Good Friday Agreement.”

However, committee members also pointed out that viable alternatives had not been presented. In her contribution, Ms McGuinness had argued about the situation that might arise had the Protocol not been in place.

Veterinary agreements

The report concluded that the outstanding issues in the Protocol could be resolved, many technically. It accepted there will be further difficulty in relation to health and veterinary standards.

The contribution of Dáithí Ó Ceallaigh from the Institute for International and European Affairs was referenced. He had told the committee that if veterinary agreements were in place between the EU and the UK, as are in place with Switzerland and New Zealand, it would provide a solution to “all the problems with regard to food and pets to disappear immediately.”

The report also contains examinations of the rules of origin, and citizens’ rights. On the latter issue, it found that not all the implications of Brexit have yet emerged, with many issues being “masked” as a result of Covid-19 restrictions.

One of the issues that was raised by more than one party was a concern about the supply and flow of medicines to Northern Ireland, arising from checks.

“The Committee noted a grace period is in place until the end of 2021 but agreed that reports of potential medicine shortages and increased prices in Northern Ireland are concerning.”