Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Many of the questions have been covered. If it is okay, I would like to go back to the Brexit issue and the protocol. I fully appreciate there are sensitivities and Ms Nolan needs to be cautious in the answers she gives. I want to ask a question on the potential threat of the triggering of Article 16. It gets discussed quite a lot, as though it is open to be used at any time for any reason when, obviously, it is not. I am sure Ms Nolan will agree quite a high bar has to be reached to trigger Article 16. There has to be a significant impact on society or an economic impact. Ironically, given that the issue now seems to be around the European Court of Justice, even though it was not an issue before now, ultimately that court is the final arbiter of anything to do with the withdrawal agreement and the protocol. What is the position if the UK triggers Article 16 and the European Union disagrees that the bar has been met to trigger it? What happens at that point? Is there a process to decide whether the EU proceed with the Article 16 procedure? Is there something else that can happen at that point? It is unusual that the very issue that seems to be the crux in the UK side is the European Court of Justice and ultimately that court will decide.

Where do we go from there on that front? On a separate topic, Ms Nolan's introduction on the state of the Union address was very good and very comprehensive. I am particularly interested in the Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve, ALMA, programme. This extension of opportunities for young people to work abroad in the European Union is long overdue. It important to have more than just Erasmus because not everybody wants to go to college or university and we should broaden those opportunities out. Does Ms Nolan have any further details on the ALMA programme? When might it start? When can we start informing young people here that they can apply? How might it work? How does she see the reciprocal arrangements here in Ireland operating? How will we cater for students coming from other member states?