COVER STORY A sit down with.....
AMBASSADOR MULHALL The last time I had the honor of interviewing you, we were talking about Brexit and the impact it would have on Ireland. Can you give us a brief Brexit update?
Ambassador Daniel Mulhall with Andrew Gelfuso, Director of the WTC D.C.
sets out commitments on a Shared Island Initiative. This includes efforts to work with all communities and traditions on the island of Ireland to build consensus around a shared future, underpinned by the Good Since we last spoke, the United Kingdom Friday Agreement. The initiative includes left the European Union - on 31 December a €500 million Shared Ireland fund, which 2020. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation provides for significant new, multiannual Agreement (TCA) was agreed at the 11th capital funding for investment on a strategic hour and has assured tariff-free trade in basis in collaborative North/South projects. goods. This was particularly important for businesses in Ireland given the significant From a trade perspective, you may have trading relationship we enjoy with Britain. seen the interesting statistics published As has been widely reported, the Northern recently. Our imports from Northern Ireland Ireland protocol, also agreed between the have increased 77% while our exports to EU and the UK in December 2020, continues the North have risen 43% since the UK’s to be a subject of discussion between the exit from the EU. The reasons for this are two sides as there are differences about complex and the situation is still evolving. It its implementation. The Protocol, which is far too early to draw precise conclusions was jointly negotiated by the current UK from it. Stockpiling pre-Brexit, COVID and Government and the EU, is jointly owned by other factors have no doubt contributed to them. It needs to be properly implemented the new trading dynamic. The significant by both sides. There can be no room for increase in trade does however point to unilateral actions or renegotiation of the new supply chains emerging as businesses Protocol. From the perspective of the seek alternative sources of supply. Irish Government, we will do all we can to ensure that solutions are found to support What will be the long-term impact on continuing economic advancement in the economy? Northern Ireland, to which the Protocol, by giving Northern Ireland full access to the I will leave predictions of the long-term EU and UK markets, has the potential to impact to the economists, but I would facilitate. like to point out two things. First, Ireland has been diversifying its links with other Has the relationship between the Republic trading partners, making use of the many and Northern Ireland changed as a result? free trade agreements that the EU has with third countries. The Irish Government’s The Irish Government is investing heavily Global Ireland initiative is ensuring that we in its relationship with Northern Ireland. have an Irish presence on the ground in an In particular, our Government’s program increasing number of countries, which is
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