Brendan Smith urges fixes to Brexit protocol, warns on Ukraine
Brendan Smith raised concerns about the operation of the Brexit protocol and urged that obstacles to trade be removed to protect businesses. He also relayed fears from the Ukrainian community about a possible Russian invasion and called for a clear EU message on sanctions and UN engagement.
Brexit protocol and EU support
He said that since 2016 the European Commission and individual member states have been supportive of Ireland in Brexit negotiations and argued that outstanding issues and operational difficulties with the protocol, including concerns expressed by the British Government, should be addressed.
Businesses and the all Ireland economy
He told the Taoiseach that businesses and people want no impediment to trade or to going about their daily business, pointing to the transformation of the all Ireland economy since 1998 and the importance of removing obstacles to cross-border commerce.
Ukrainian community concerns and sanctions
He reported engaging with the Ukrainian community in his constituency who are very concerned about a possible invasion by Russia and anxious that the European Union should make clear that severe sanctions would follow such action. He also raised worries about military training in the Atlantic.
United Nations and government response
He asked the Taoiseach to assure that Ireland would raise these issues at United Nations Security Council level. The Taoiseach replied that the EU Commission had been supportive on Brexit and that Ireland will use its UN Security Council role as a voice for peace, reason and de-escalation.
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.
The Taoiseach, as you are well aware, since 2016 the European Commission and individual member states of the European Union have been very supportive of Ireland's interest in the whole negotiations regarding Brexit. Hopefully the outstanding issues and some difficulties that have emerged in regard to the operation of the protocol, and particularly concerns expressed by the British Government, that whatever obstacles are there, that they can be removed. Because when I speak to my constituents and to people north of my own home area, what businesses want there is to ensure that there is no impediment to trade or no impediment to people going about their daily business. Because we have seen the transformation with the development of the all Ireland economy since 1998. At Taoiseach as well, I have been engaging with members of the Ukrainian community, my own constituency, and they have been expressing to me the concerns that they are hearing from their own people at home. They are very concerned in regard to a possible invasion by Russia, and they are anxious that the European Union would give out a clear message that if Russia takes such action that severe sanctions are put in place. They are also stating that we should be expressing very, very clearly our concern about military training in the Atlantic. And also, can you assure us Taoiseach that Ireland will raise these very, very important and critical issues in the United Nations at Security Council level? Thank you. The European Union Commission has been very supportive on Brexit, and I hear what Deputy Smith has said. And in terms of Ireland will play its part at the UN Security Council as a voice for peace, as a voice for reason, and as a voice for the de-escalation of violence.
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.
