What the Windsor Framework/Protocol will mean in practice for the institutions of government in Northern Ireland? – Seminar

‘What the Windsor Framework/ Protocol will mean in practice for the institutions of government in Northern Ireland?’ 

This seminar will explore what the post-Brexit context will mean for the Assembly, the Executive and its departments of government, the North-South institutions and the British Irish Council. The relationships, opportunities, risks and obligations will be very different from anything that has gone before. While there are parallels with the operation of the EEA countries, and others with association agreements with the EU, Northern Ireland will be unique in that it is a region of a non-Member State, and not a separate sovereign jurisdiction. The issues that will arise will be affected not only by the relationship with the EU, but by the place of Northern Ireland within the governance and constitution of the United Kingdom, which will itself also be adapting to new policy opportunities and challenges post-Brexit. Communication and understanding (with NI stakeholders as well as the EU and UK institutions) will be absolutely critical if the opportunities are to be realised, and the potential tensions (which could be very significant) are to be anticipated and navigated to avoid disruption or controversy. 

Andrew McCormick will draw on his vast experience of the Brexit process to explore the impact of the Windsor Framework. We would like to invite you to join us at the Northern Ireland Executive Office in Brussels to discuss these issues with Andrew, who will also be producing a paper on the topic. It will be a great opportunity for all in Brussels who are interested in the Windsor Framework to explore with an expert on the machinery of government in Northern Ireland.  

Andrew McCormick

BA in Geology Oxford (1978). PhD in Geochemistry QUB (1989).   

Joined the NI Civil Service in 1980: Department of Finance & Personnel (DFP) up to 1992.  In 1992-93, I worked on the political talks.  

Finance Director in the Department of Education 1993-98; Director, Central Finance Group DFP (1998-2005).  Permanent Secretary of: Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (2005-2014); Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment (2014-2016), and Department for the Economy from 2016-2018.   

Director General for International Relations, The Executive Office (2018 to 2021), with responsibility for EU Exit issues.   

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