Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Another diplomatic fiasco from this Government is splashed all over the front pages of the right-wing press in the UK today. According to The Daily Telegraph, Rishi Sunak is imploring the Irish Government not to set up checkpoints at the Irish Border. He is urging the Taoiseach to maintain an open Border. You could not make this stuff up. The Government's panicked, reactive and shambolic approach to migration is not just causing chaos and division in Irish society, it is a PR boom to the Tory party in its general election campaign. To his Parliamentary Party last night, the Tánaiste spoke of the need to improve communications and engagement on migration on all fronts. That is incredible, this far into the chaos. Every couple of months, the same promise about improving communication is made. Let me ask the Tánaiste a question. I want to be fair to him because it is very hard to communicate a plan for migration that very clearly does not exist. When the Tánaiste removes the smirk from his mouth can he answer the serious question? Sorry, Tánaiste, I am addressing you.

See this speech in context