Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not taking anything from Deputy Adams. I am not sure whether the Deputy was talking about a statutory forum that would be put in place like any of the other institutions. Deputy Adams's idea certainly has merit and value and I share his view that it is necessary that everybody works together in the common interest of all the people of the island. I also share Deputy Adams' view - it is our responsibility as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, as I have said to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister - that we have a duty to understand the common challenges that we face, in the Republic and in Northern Ireland, in the context of the UK vote and the subsequent relationships, in whatever form, that will apply in terms of the European Union. Obviously, there is a great deal of confusion among many, but it is important to note that until the exist process is completed, Britain does not leave the European Union, it retains its full rights and membership, it must make its payments to the European Union and it must meet every other regulation of the Union. Until that time, Britain remains a full member. Deputy Adams will have noted the comments from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, originally in respect of being able to bring in a surplus by 2020 and then a proposition to reduce the corporate tax rate to below 15%, which would be directly in competition with both here and the intention of the Northern Ireland Executive to reduce its corporate tax rate under devolved authority given to it. These are all issues that need to be considered.

We agreed yesterday in the ten-point programme to work through all the existing institutions - the cross-Border bodies, the British-Irish Council and the North-South Ministerial Council. We encouraged Ministers, many of whom were new at the meeting yesterday, to engage with their counterparts to set out the programmes they intend to work on towards implementation.

Deputy Adams is correct that the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, and the Northern Ireland Minister for Health, Ms Michelle O'Neill MLA, attended the children's hospital in Crumlin. That will be a unique situation whereby children from the island of Ireland with particular specialist problems will be able to attend that multi-million euro facility where the care and attention they will get will be world class.

Deputy Adams should be clear on it. From my point of view, as Head of Government, I will work closely with our European colleagues at the European Council many of whom have very different views about the kind of Europe that we can or might have over the next few years. Our intention is to protect our interests, the interests of all the people of this island, North and South, such as the common travel area, the open Border, the peace process, and the opportunity to continue to grow trade and prosperity in a peaceful situation. Clearly, there are many challenges ahead. As I said to Deputy Martin, it requires everybody in the House, irrespective of their political background, to work in the greater interests of the country.

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