Brendan Smith urges progress on Northern Ireland Protocol medicines
Brendan Smith spoke on 8 Dec 2021 about the Northern Ireland Protocol, urging swift resolution of outstanding issues affecting cross-border businesses, especially the availability of medicines and burdensome customs paperwork. He asked for assurances that the government and the European Union would continue to work to resolve problems without threats such as triggering Article 16.
Main concerns raised
He cited surveys by Cathy Hayward and David Finnamore of Queen's University showing two major issues of concern - the availability of medicines and the need to reduce customs paperwork for products travelling from Britain to Northern Ireland. He stressed anxiety among businesses in neighbouring counties north of the border and the importance of resolving difficulties as soon as possible.
Medicines progress requested
He requested a progress report on the medicines issue and urged swift action to ensure timely access to medicines. The Taoiseach replied that real progress has been made and that they are close to a position on medicines which should address concerns about access to medicines authorised by British regulatory authorities, while noting that some detailed work remains.
Customs paperwork and SPS checks
He highlighted the particular difficulty customs paperwork poses for smaller businesses and called for reductions in checks. The Taoiseach said initial Commission assessment suggested proposals from Maris Sefcovic would reduce SPS checks by about 80% and that work is ongoing between Maris Sefcovic and Lord Frost to reach a sensible agreement.
Impact on trade and businesses
The Taoiseach emphasised that seamless north-south flows are indispensable for farmers and the dairy industry and that access to the single market helps Northern businesses export and attract investment. Both speakers underlined the need to minimise checks on small and medium-sized enterprises to avoid adverse impacts from Brexit.
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Taoiseach, as we all know, the Northern Ireland Protocol is part of the withdrawal agreement for my interaction with businesses in neighbouring counties north of the border, they are anxious that it will work, and they are also anxious that whatever difficulties there are and issues that should be resolved as soon as possible, and without any threats of anybody triggering Article 16 or whatever, so they are anxious that the government along with the European Union would continue to work towards resolving whatever outstanding issues there are. Can I just say that Cathy Hayward and David Finnamore of Queen's University have done excellent work over the past number of years in regard to Brexit, recently they had some surveys carried out in relation to people's attitude in Northern Ireland to the protocol, and two of the major issues of concern were the availability of medicines and also the need to reduce the customs paperwork in relation to products travelling from Britain to Northern Ireland. Can you give us an assurance some time ago in regard to medicines, that those issues would be resolved, and all of us want to see that happen. Maybe you could give us a progress report in relation to where the medicines issue were at, and also the possibility of having the customs paperwork reduced. It is a particular difficulty for the smaller businesses, and we want to ensure that they will not continue to be impacted adversely by Brexit. Thank you. And in terms of Deputy Smith's points, I think Deputy Smith is absolutely correct. That's our sense as well. Industry and businesses in the North believe the protocol is working for them. And what's interesting is in terms of, you know, if you're a farmer in Northern Ireland, or if you're involved in the dairy industry, the seamless flow north and south is absolutely indispensable to your business. And likewise, other the access to the single market for Northern businesses is important, and gives an advantage and helps them to export more, but also to potentially now attract foreign direct investment into the North. And I think that's important, as well as access to the GB market, of course, which is the biggest market for Northern Ireland. And that is the ideal lending zone for the protocol, but that we do it in a way that minimises the checks, as you have said, in respect of small to medium size business. And real progress, I would say, has been made in respect of medicines. And we're close to a, I would argue, position on medicines, which should meet the you know, the concerns that the British government have, and indeed, people in Northern Ireland have in respect of access to the latest medicines, those authorised by the British regulatory authorities. Now, the devil is always in detail, and there is some remaining work to be done on that. Same applies to customs and the SPS. The initial assessment from the commission was that the proposals put forward by Maris Sefcovic would reduce SPS checks by about 80%. So the work is ongoing between Maris Sefcovic and Lord Frost. And we hope they can reach a proper sensible agreement that would be to the benefit of everyone. As I said yesterday, British Irish Council, all the participants were very clear in articulating the British government, we do not want any more disruption between the European Union and the United Kingdom. The the U.S.
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