Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Commissioner for his engagement with us here in the Irish Parliament. It is most welcome. We appreciate the fact that he has identified the real concerns of the Irish people in every opportunity he has had. His work, as the Chairperson has been rightly identified, has been exemplary and we appreciate it.

Looking at the way the British have negotiated this process and looking at the package of changes the Commissioner has brought to bear in recent weeks, most observers will recognise that the changes resolve most of issues that have been raised by the business communities in the North of Ireland. If the British Government is to trigger Article 16, would the Commissioner characterise that as the UK having negotiated the original withdrawal agreement in bad faith?

Will he elaborate on the comments he made on his engagement with David Frost, in which he said there was a change of mood - I think that was the term he used - or certainly a change in tactics? That would be helpful..