Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On Monday the First and deputy First Ministers, Ms Arlene Foster and Mr. Martin McGuinness, with the First Minister of Scotland, Ms Nicola Sturgeon, and the First Minister of Wales, Mr. Carwyn Jones, met the British Prime Minister, Ms Theresa May, in London. It was the first meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee in almost two years. All of those involved demanded that be fully involved in the British Government's negotiations in leaving the European Union. However, it is clear that the British Government has no intention of allowing this to happen. Instead, the leaders were offered access to the Tory Government's Brexit Minister. Downing Street officials were busy warning against any attempt by Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to undermine the British Government's position. The British Government's approach is to negotiate Brexit in its entirely for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland without any recognition of the "Remain" vote in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

What happens in Scotland is a matter for its people and what happens in the North is our business. In their joint letter to the British Prime Minister on 1 August the First and the Deputy First Ministers outlined their agreed key priorities, which included the cross-Border movement of people, goods and services; trading costs; business competitiveness; certainty in the draw-down of funding and support for the agrifood sector. The Taoiseach is well aware that the DUP and Sinn Féin hold opposite positions on Brexit, but this should not be used as an excuse by the Irish Government to resile from its responsibilities to the people of the Six Counties. It must be remembered that the DUP is formally opposed to the Good Friday Agreement, but as we all know, the Agreement must be upheld and advanced. The DUP knows this and that it also applies to the "Remain" vote in the North. The role and responsibilit of the Irish Government, as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, must be to defend the integrity of the Agreement and ensure the "Remain" vote is respected and upheld.

Some in this Chamber have complained about the absence of concern on the part of the British Government about how Brexit will impact on Ireland. There is nothing new in the current British stance: it was always thus. Wolfe Tone would hardly be surprised. We should not spend too much time blowing hot air about Perfidious Albion. What we need to do is get our own house in order. It is vital that the Irish Government have an informed strategy for how our national interests will be protected and this means having an all-island vision. I cannot say often enough that what we need is a 32-county vision. Does the Taoiseach agree that the all-Ireland civic dialogue should identify and charter a course to ensure the whole island will remain within the European Union?

I have written twice to the Taoiseach's Department to ask what bodies and organisations have been invited to participate in the dialogue, but I have not received a reply. Will the Taoiseach tell us how often the all-Ireland civic dialogue will be convened and whether it will meet in different parts of the country, including the North?

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