Mr. Richard Neal:

I thank Senator O'Reilly for his questions. A trade agreement on a bilateral basis, as suggested by the UK, would be negotiated by my committee through the United States trade representative for the committee as she gets ready to be confirmed for the United States Senate. The scheduling of that agreement will take place through me, and it could not come through me without being okayed with the Speaker of the House. She has made it clear that she would not schedule a vote, and I have made it clear I would not schedule what we call a mark-up that would facilitate that agreement. The members of the Oireachtas are all familiar with the term as they mark up legislation. We met some of the most vocal Brexiteers and it is fair to say that we had a pretty vigorous disagreement. The Speaker and I reiterated the position, which we reinforced publicly, that a trade agreement without the support of the Chairman of the US Congressional Committee on Ways and Means and the Speaker of the House is just not something that can happen. The British are aware of that. I was with Speaker Pelosi when we talked to Theresa May who was fully understanding of the position that we took, and to have the President-elect reiterate that position has been very helpful.