Marian Harkin urges Brexit extension amid COVID-19 disruption
Marian Harkin spoke on 07 May 2020 about the state of Brexit negotiations during the COVID-19 pandemic, urging an extension to the negotiating period and warning the current trajectory risks driving Ireland "straight into a brick wall". She argued COVID-19 could be treated as force majeure and called for a united EU response to protect the Irish protocol, the land bridge and agriculture.
Call for extension
She told the Tanaiste and the Taoiseach that the negotiating period should be extended, arguing COVID-19 is a legitimate reason to seek more time. Harkin warned June is a do-or-die moment and pressed for continued pressure ahead of another round of talks next week.
UK negotiating behaviour
Harkin criticised the UK for not making its negotiating position public and for "cherry-picking" elements from deals such as the Canadian, Korean and Japan agreements. She referenced Commissioner Hogan's comments on slow UK progress and attempts to play COVID-19 for advantage, and noted Michel Barnier's assessment after meeting EU ambassadors that such tactics are not working.
Irish protocol and land bridge
She welcomed the Taoiseach's firm commitment to the Irish protocol and stressed that commitment cannot be restated often enough. Harkin emphasised the importance of the land bridge as a crucial route to the EU market and said it must remain open and function effectively.
Agriculture and food concerns
Harkin highlighted the scale of the risk to farming and food production, noting that 40% of food exports go to the UK. She warned the threat is enormous for all regions, and particularly acute for border areas, and said she would press the minister further in questions.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
First of all, can I thank the Tanaiste for his work on Brexit to date. Unlike most other deputies, I could observe Brexit from a Brussels perspective. And I want to say that as an Irish MEP, I and others considered we were well represented. But of course, things have moved on. And in recent times, Brexit has somewhat disappeared from the radar because of COVID-19. But in a way, it's like the coronavirus itself. It's still lurking in the background, but hiding in plain sight, as it were. And now I suppose that Boris Johnson is back in Downing Street, we can have some hope that there will be some real progress and not a continuation of the current incessant foot dragging. In this context, I believe we need to continue the pressure for an extension of the negotiating period. I think COVID-19 could be seen as a type of force majeure, a good enough reason to seek for and agree to an extension. Because right now, it seems to me as if the current trajectory will drive us straight into a brick wall. There is, as you said, Taoiseach, another round of talks next week. And it's really do or die, as June is just around the corner. And I agree with Deputy Howland here. It is at that point now. I suppose another issue of real concern is that the UK has not made their negotiating position public. The EU has committed transparency, and that mismatch creates its own difficulties. Commissioner Hogan spoke this morning on radio. He spoke of the slow progress that the UK is making and seeking to play COVID-19 for any negative outcome on Brexit. He spoke of the UK still trying to divide and conquer and to move over the heads of the European Commission. But he also said that Barnier, following a meeting with the EU ambassadors, said that that is not working. So his assessment, quite bleak, is probably fairly accurate. Now, in your speech, you mentioned not just a level playing field, but a strong level playing field. Yet, all we hear from the negotiations is that the UK is still attempting to cherry-pick. They're looking at some of the deals already in place. The Canadian trade deal, the Korean trade deal, the Japan trade deal, and others. And they're trying to pick the bits and pieces that suit them. This approach, as we all know, is a disaster because it prevents any real progress from being made. And as I said, it brings us to the brink. Now, as other deputies have said, we have to remain steadfast and resolute. You know, I know, and we all know how crucial it is that the EU continues to maintain a fully united front. And I expect that will continue. I was heartened to hear your absolute commitment to the Irish protocol. I know you helped negotiate it, but because of the reckless position of the UK, I think that cannot be restated often enough. You also mentioned you had a conversation with Michel Barnier around the land bridge. And I will come back to that during the questions. But it's a crucial route to market, to the EU market, to which we will have full access. And we must absolutely ensure it remains open and that it functions effectively. Finally, Minister, I want to mention the huge concerns we all share around agriculture and food production. As we know, 40% of our food exports go to the UK. And the threat to farming and food production is simply enormous for all regions, but perhaps even more so for the border regions. And again, I will come back to that in the questions and answers. So, Minister, like COVID-19, there are no easy answers. But we have to negotiate Brexit with our EU partners and minimise any negative outcomes for this island that's simply behind an island off the coast of Europe. Thank you.
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
