Thread by @hayward_katy

Ireland has a sparkling new Programme for Government on the table 🇮🇪✨#programmeforgovernment
@fiannafailparty
@FineGael
@greenparty_ie

What does it say about #NIreland & about #Brexit?

A #thread on the stand-out points.

(H/T @ConorHouston_ for the starting link!)

1/10

On #Brexit future UK-EU:
-IRL sees itself at the ‘centre of negotiations’
-Will maintain ‘constant’ contact with EU's UKTaskForce
-Wants close #UK-EU relationship
-Has all EU’s 🇪🇺priorities in there as its own…
Plus🐟😬
-Notes full implementation of WA = key to an FTA
2/10

On implementing #WithdrawalAgmt IRL:
- Promises ‘active participation’ in Specialised Committee
(which means, according to UKG promise, NI Exec reps should be present too)

- Emphasis on rights dimensions of #protocol

- To seek ‘strong commitments’ from UKG to #ECHR (hmmm)

3/10

Specific commitments to British/Irish rel'ship 🇬🇧🇮🇪:
-A ‘strategic review’ in '20/21 (centenary!)
-Strand 3 institutions strengthened
-⬆️contact to replace that missed by UK out of EU
-⬆️bilateral coop across sectors
-⬆️rel'ship with 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿& 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
-Consolate general in N.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿!!
4/10

On the island of Ireland:

A new Unit in the Dept of the Taoiseach is to "work towards consensus on a shared island"

[I confess I am not sure exactly what that means even in lexical terms]

Will examine pol., social, ec. & cultural ‘considerations’... so not unambitious🏔️

5/10

#Brexit-relevant points on the ‘shared island’ mission:
-All-Island Civic Dialogue to continue

-Prioritise "protection of #peace process & the all-island economy" [the latter having been dropped from the revised #Protocol]

-Deepen x-border multiagency coop. on crime 🚓
6/10

- Bold aim to “enhance, develop & deepen all aspects of north-south cooperation & the all-island economy”

- Some solid ambitions re: environmental protection 💚

+ repetition of some key commitments from #NewDecadeNewApproach, e.g. all-island research hub thru @UniIreland

7/10

On #governance:
-Regular meetings of NSMC
-Expanded mechanisms for @OireachtasNews engagement with @niassembly, Westminster & devolved Parls
-Each govt dept to maintain strong links with its NI counterpart
👏
Maybe they read our @UKandEU report?! tinyurl.com/NIBrexitGovce

8/10

Also notable:
•Commitment to Stormont House Agmt

+ to 'support initiatives by civil society, community sector, & arts & cultural sector aimed at promoting constructive & inclusive dialogue around the future of the island'.

So not shying away from the conversations...

9/10

North/South aims in sum:
-@greenparty_ie has made a difference
-Includes persistent & tricky as well as new issues
-Ambition goes beyond stealing SF thunder & seeks to meet real challenges re: #Brexit

Feasibility will depend on bandwidth & resource as much as pol will.

10/10