Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is a great degree of culture going on here. Years ago, I visited Glasgow when it was European capital of culture. Mr. Russell has whetted our appetite to visit some of the more rural areas, including his constituency.

I thank Mr. Russell for his briefing on the situation as he sees it. We appreciate his support for the position of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Mr. Russell mentioned that we need to see the Good Friday Agreement provisions implemented and that there should be no hard border and so on. That support is greatly appreciated.

I had the pleasure of meeting the Scottish First Minister when she visited these Houses last year. She addressed the Seanad at the time and she made a big impression. It is great to see that Mr. Russell is following up her visit now as things progress.

There is a view that the agreement reached was perhaps something of a fudge in phase one of the negotiations. I note that new negotiating directives have been agreed and those involved are going to try to put legal text on that agreement. That would be welcome. I imagine Mr. Russell would agree with that.

I note what Mr. Russell had to say in respect of membership of the customs union and the Single Market to the effect that these outcomes represent the next-best scenario. I wonder what is going on in the Conservative Party and the internal dynamics of that party at this time. Things are developing as we speak this week. Perhaps Mr. Russell could comment, unless he believes it would be undiplomatic, in which case I would understand. There is concern about what is going on internally in the Conservative Party with all of this.

I have two questions. Mr. Russell referenced the EU-UK negotiations that everyone knows about. He also mentioned the intra-UK negotiations but not a great deal is known about these. Are these real and meaningful negotiations within the UK? Does Mr. Russell believe he is getting a fair hearing? I note the position of the Conservative Party traditionally in respect of these matters. I am keen to know how those intra-UK negotiations are going.

My second question relates to the Scottish independence generally. Scotland held a referendum. What are the prospects for another referendum for Scottish independence in due course? What are the dynamics leading into that? I am keen to know what Mr. Russell has to say about that issue as well.