Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Taoiseach's visit to the University of Ulster and to Belfast on Monday in support of the campaign against Brexit. Notwithstanding the news that Mr. Cameron has decided to pull out of an event with the Taoiseach, I understand he will be spending several days in the north of England and Scotland. There are only nine days left before the vote takes place. Will the Taoiseach or other Ministers visit the North before then? The North being pulled out of the EU is bad for all of the island. While Sinn Féin is critical of the European Union, enough difficulties are created by partition and we do not need a part of this island inside the EU with another part outside. However, in the event the “Leave” side wins, has the Government a plan B to minimise any disruption? If there is a Brexit, will the Taoiseach support the democratic imperative of a Border poll to provide Irish citizens with the right to vote for an end to partition and for an all-island approach to the EU?

The programme for Government sets the ambitious target of wanting this State to be recognised as one of the cleanest and safest environments in the world. How does this laudable objective square with the significant increase in bin charges that most households now face? Thorntons has replaced its €40 a year standing charge with a weekly €2 service charge, meaning its customers will now have to pay €104 a year in service charges, on top of increased costs for lifting brown and black bins.

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