Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the process which applies for the making of laws in Northern Ireland on matters covered by the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.

The relevant implementing legislation for rules applied in Northern Ireland was brought forward and passed through the UK Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly. This will continue to be the case for the transposition of any new rules made applicable by the Protocol which require domestic implementation.

Where new EU legislation is brought forward which amend or replace acts contained within the Annexes to the Protocol, Article 15 provides for appropriate information and exchanges of information through the Joint Consultative Working Group. A representative of the Northern Ireland Executive forms part of the UK delegation to this group. Where a new EU law is brought forward that is within scope of the Protocol but which neither amends nor replaces an EU act listed in the Protocol, Article 13 provides that Joint Committee agreement is required for it to be applied in Northern Ireland. Again the Northern Ireland Executive will form part of the UK’s delegation at the Joint Committee and will be consulted as part of the position to be adopted in such cases. We have committed to providing the appropriate means for Parliamentary scrutiny of legislation within scope of the Protocol.