Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

However, the Tánaiste said that the border checks could be at sea. I did not say that; nobody else in this House said that, but the Tánaiste said it to the Minister, Deputy Ross, albeit he thought he was saying it privately not realising it was caught on microphone. Now the Taoiseach is saying that clearly it could not be at sea. The Tánaiste went on to say that "But once you start talking about checks anywhere near the border, people will start delving into that and all of a sudden we’ll be the Government that reintroduced a physical border on the island of Ireland.” The emphasis was on "we'll be the Government", so whatever one does, do not mention the border. He was effectively saying to the Minister, Deputy Ross, "Don't mention it. For God's sake don't mention the border because we'll get tarred with it and that's the last thing we want."

Has that conversation happened with the European Union? Has the Government shared that view with the President of the Commission and with Michel Barnier? What is the Taoiseach's take on the exchange between the Minister, Deputy Ross, and the Tánaiste? In the aftermath of the budget the independent Parliamentary Budget Office made the comment that there are no projections in terms of revenue and expenditure.

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