Taoiseach signals Biden’s resolute support for Belfast Agreement

US president Joe Biden took Taoiseach Micheál Martin aside at the Cop26 climate summit to reassure him "in the strongest possible terms" of the importance of the Belfast Agreement.

Mr Martin told the Dáil that Mr Biden also said he had made this unequivocally clear to the British government.

Mr Martin was answering questions on Brexit and the current state of negotiations. He said it is a very challenging and serious situation because international agreements have been entered into and agreed.

“We must keep the needs of the people of Northern Ireland foremost in our minds as we proceed,” he said.

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Amid fears over the threats by the British government to unilaterally suspend the protocol and trigger article 16 in a row about the oversight role of the European Court of Justice, Mr Martin said that “a good faith response is required from the United Kingdom government”.

He also reiterated his view that it would be “irresponsible, unwise and reckless to invoke article 16 as a response to the proposals from the European Commission”.

The Taoiseach warned: “If such an act was taken by the British government, it would have far-reaching implications for the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union.

Fine Gael Brexit spokesman Neale Richmond expressed concern about the “sabre rattling” by Britain to invoke article 16 and “the comments of the leader of the DUP who is now constantly threatening to collapse the Northern Ireland Assembly. That is after he withdrew his Ministers, potentially unlawfully, from North-South engagement through the ministerial council.”

Fianna Fáil’s Seán Haughey said there seemed to be “a bit of megaphone diplomacy now under way, which is not a good sign”.

He noted comments of European Commission vice-president Maros Šefcovic that the UK was embarking on a path of confrontation and the response by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis, that the vice-president was “wilfully misrepresenting” Britain’s demands on the Northern Ireland protocol. The mood music is not good.”

Mr Martin said Mr Šefcovic made “far-reaching proposals” in respect of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, with an 80 per cent reduction in checks.

Mr Martin warned that invoking article 16 would be irresponsible, reckless and unwise. He added that it would also have implications for the relationship between the United Kingdom administration and Irish Government.

“Such action would not be in accordance with the spirit of partnership that has informed the peace process from the get-go and the creation of the entire architecture that underpins the Good Friday Agreement. That is my very strong view.”

Biden intervention

He said that at the Cop26 summit “President Biden called me over to have a brief conversation with me after one of the sessions. He reiterated to me, in the strongest possible terms, how the Good Friday Agreement matters deeply to him and his administration. He said that he made this unequivocally clear to the British government.”

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald called on the Taoiseach to reiterate his “absolute commitment” to the full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement and not allow the British government to water it down in the wake of concerns that it plans to introduce legislation for an amnesty for British soldiers “and perpetrators of acts of violence and criminality in Ireland by its forces”.

Ms McDonald said “families, campaigners and everybody across politics island-wide are opposed to this amnesty” which would “ ban inquests, stop civil actions and bring very severe limitations even in respect of judicial reviews”.

The Taoiseach said the Government worked continuously to implement the Stormont House Agreement to assist reconciliation and “meet the legitimate needs of victims and survivors in Northern Ireland and across the island of Ireland”.

He stressed their opposition to the British Government’s proposals for a blanket statute of limitations on Troubles-related killings and attacks.