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• Inquiry: Brexit: UK-Irish relations follow-up
• European Union Committee

Background

The Committee’s original report found that the implications of Brexit for Ireland were more profound than they are for any other Member State, giving rise to a series of complex and interconnected questions, affecting UK-Irish relations, Northern Ireland, and North-South relations on the island of Ireland. The Committee warned that closer UK-Irish relations and stability in Northern Ireland must not become ‘collateral damage’ of Brexit.

There have been significant developments since the report was published, including:

• Following the triggering of Article 50, the commencement of discussions on the implications of Brexit for Northern Ireland and Ireland as one of the three ‘phase 1’ negotiation issues
• The publication by the UK Government of a Position Paper on Northern Ireland and Ireland in August 2017, followed in September by publication by the European Commission of Guiding Principles on the Dialogue on Ireland/ Northern Ireland
• The agreement in December 2017 of a Joint Report from the UK and EU negotiators on progress during the phase 1 negotiations, paving the way for discussions on the UK’’s future relationship with the EU to commence.

Issues to be considered

This follow-up inquiry will review the impact of Brexit on UK-Irish relations, in light of the developments outlined above, with particular emphasis on:

• The implications for UK-Irish relations of the December Joint Report on progress made during the phase 1 negotiations
• The key priorities and issues to be addressed in relation to Ireland and Northern Ireland in phase 2 of the negotiations
• The status of the Irish land border, and options for maintaining frictionless cross-border trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland
• The extent to which the views of both the unionist and nationalist communities in Northern Ireland are being taken into account during the Brexit negotiations
• The impact of the continuing Brexit negotiations on North-South and East-West relations

16 January meeting

The Committee’s evidence programme will begin on Tuesday 16 January, in Committee Room 3, Palace of Westminster when the Committee will hear from:

At 3:05pm

• Dr Graham Gudgin, Chief Economic Advisor, Policy Exchange and previously special advisor to the First Minister of Northern Ireland, 1998-2002, Policy Exchange
• Professor John Garry, Queen’s University Belfast

At 4:05 pm

• Dame Fiona Kendrick, Chairman, Nestlé UK and Ireland
• Mr Leigh Pomlett, Executive Director CEVA Group and Freight Transport Association President
• Mr James Hookham, Deputy Chief Executive, Freight Transport Association

Future meetings

Between now and 6 February, the Committee will hear evidence from the UK Government, academic experts, businesses and operators operating cross-border, and customs authorities at existing EU external borders. From 30 January to 1 February the Committee will also visit Dublin, Belfast, Derry/Londonderry and the North West Border Region, to hear from politicians on all sides, and from businesses, service providers and communities.

Related documents

• HM Government, Northern Ireland and Ireland position paper
• European Commission, Guiding principles for the Dialogue on Ireland/Northern Ireland
• Joint report from the negotiators of the European Union and the United Kingdom Government on progress during phase 1of negotiations under Article 50 TEU on the UK’s orderly withdrawal from the EU, 8 December 2017