Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am a bit disconcerted by the Minister’s reply. It is almost as if Brexit is a normal European event. He speaks as if we are doing business as usual, saying he will send out an information note and that he will brief us. That is to miss the point. The idea is how, where there are such significant challenges on so many fronts as set out in the contingency framework document that the Taoiseach presented, we can co-ordinate our response. Deputy Micheál Martin met the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, ALDE, including five prime ministers last week. I am meeting the socialist group this week but we are not acting in consort in terms of a clear strategy working together. Bluntly, the Minister or the Minister of State briefing their own family group is not what I am talking about. I am talking about a coherent strategy, not going to brief committees as if it was a normal European issue. This is a momentous event that needs a co-ordinated response using all our levers across Europe and I am not hearing that the Minister grasps that point.

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