Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 December 2025
155. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her Department has conducted any sector-by-sector analysis of exposure for exporters in the Cork Port region arising from possible UK regulatory divergence under the Windsor Framework; and to provide the findings of that analysis. [68731/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra156. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Cork-based exporters or logistics operators who have contacted her Department since 1 September 2025 regarding concerns about UK divergence; and to summarise the issues raised. [68732/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra158. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her Department has prepared contingency measures for exporters in the Cork Port region in the event of unilateral UK changes affecting regulatory alignment or market access; and to outline those measures in detail. [68734/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra159. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her Department has conducted any assessment of the impact of dual regulatory regimes on SME exporters using the Port of Cork, including effects on haulage costs, customs clearance times and supply chain reliability; and to provide the results of that assessment. [68735/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 155, 156, 158 and 159 together.
The Windsor Framework, an agreement reached between the EU and UK in 2023, acknowledges the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland within the context of the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the EU in 2016. Through it, the gains of the Good Friday Agreement have been protected, while also providing certainty and clarity for the people and businesses of Northern Ireland and across the island of Ireland. The agreed upon safeguards and facilitations contained within the Windsor Framework ensure that Northern Ireland, while remaining part of the United Kingdom’s internal market, also retains access to the EU’s single market for goods. Crucially, this avoids a hard border on the island of Ireland and protects the all-island economy.
My Department has not conducted a specific assessment of the impact of dual regulatory regimes on SME exporters using the Port of Cork, nor has it conducted a formal sector-by-sector analysis into the exposure for exporters in the Cork Port region arising from potential regulatory divergence between the EU and UK. My Department has also not been contacted by Cork-based exporters or logistics operators on this matter since 1 September 2025. As the Deputy will be aware, however, officials in my Department and across Government engage regularly with stakeholders on a wide variety of issues, including within the context of the post-Brexit trading environment.
As recently as 29 September 2025, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Mr Simon Harris TD, in his former role as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, chaired a meeting of the Brexit Stakeholders’ Forum, which provided a welcome opportunity to hear directly from organisations and representative groups on matters affecting them. The Government Trade Forum, which meets on a regular basis, similarly brings together a diversity of stakeholders and provides an opportunity to discuss a broad range of matters. From a customs formalities and procedures perspective, I am aware that Revenue also continues to have a strong stakeholder engagement and communications programme, including through its Customs Consultative Committee. Such engagements continue to provide a valuable platform to engage with stakeholders and to hear directly from them on any issues they may be experiencing.
Ireland has always supported the strongest possible relationship between the EU and UK. To that end, I very much welcome the outcome of the EU-UK summit in May which has opened a positive new chapter in EU-UK relations. This positive new chapter has seen a commitment to reach agreements in a number of areas which will underpin and support trade between our two islands. I am particularly pleased that negotiations are now underway to secure agreements on SPS and ETS, both of which will be important in supporting trade between the EU and UK, and with Ireland.
As these negotiations continue, my officials and I will continue to stress the importance of the full, timely and faithful implementation of the Windsor Framework in our engagements with EU and UK counterparts, recognising that it is crucial in providing certainty and clarity for people and businesses across the island of Ireland. I wish to assure the Deputy that I will continue to advocate strongly for Ireland’s interests across all EU forums.
