Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not want to repeat the points made by Deputies Howlin or Calleary but I strongly agree, especially about an early warning system. Is the damage caused by this really appreciated by the European Commission and the Minister of State's colleagues in the EU? There is lasting damage. In the days after this happened, people leapt at the opportunity.

Everybody makes mistakes but how one learns from them is the most important thing. Moving on from Article 16, my next concern is twofold. Does the Minister of State think that the British Government is now in danger of pushing this too far? We see extra demands and a consistent underlining that it is now prepared to trigger Article 16. If one looks at the albeit typical British newspapers, they are demanding a renegotiation less than six weeks since the trade deal was agreed. A British minister on national radio this morning accused the EU of being unreasonable and changing its position. I am very worried that less than six weeks in, people are damaging the house of cards.

My final question comes back to the protocol which the Minister of State referred to briefly in his intervention. To what extent is engagement taking place between the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to the operation of the protocol? Are there any opportunities that may be pushed up to Michael Gove and Maroš Šefovi when they have meetings? I am quite worried by some Northern Irish politicians demanding that all North-South relations in this area be cut off. I do not see what that achieves. I would really appreciate the Minister of State's take on those three related but quite worrying issues.