The Northern Ireland Protocol

Part of 3. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:42 pm on 18 May 2022.

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Photo of Darren Millar Darren Millar Conservative 3:42, 18 May 2022

I think it is important that there's further dialogue between the EU and the UK, and I think it's also very important that the UK Government engages with devolved Governments where there are impacts on people, particularly here in Wales, obviously. No-one wants to see unilateral action. The UK Government has made it clear that it didn't want to be in a position where it had to introduce potential changes to the agreement on just the one side, but it is important that there are pragmatic solutions. I think the Bill that was produced and the proposals that have been put forward by the UK Government yesterday were pragmatic. They were not talking about ripping up an international agreement at all; there were minor changes proposed in order to address some of the significant concerns that have been raised across Northern Ireland, particularly by the business community. Do you accept, Counsel General, that, whilst this matter isn't devolved, the engagement that has to take place with the Welsh Government can only be limited because of course the agreement is between the UK Government and the European Union? And do you accept that the European Union also needs to move and attempt to compromise if we're going to reach an agreement—[Interruption.]—if we're going to reach an agreement that secures the peace in Northern Ireland and upholds the principles of the Good Friday agreement?