Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Has the Taoiseach spoken to the Northern Ireland deputy First Minister on the proposal aired in the newspapers in recent days? The current legal indications are that a vote on Brexit will be required in the British Parliament and that is likely to be very close. Many MPs from Scotland and England who have attended various meetings have very strongly indicated their view and expectation that there will be a vote. Has the Taoiseach asked the Northern Ireland deputy First Minister in the event of such a vote being called - a very important vote - if Sinn Féin MPs will take their seats in Westminster and vote in favour of the interests of the whole island of Ireland?

In our discussions so far and the many question and answer sessions with the Taoiseach here, there has been a very strong approach by all the parties, including Sinn Féin, to an all-island approach.

I was a little surprised to see a Member of the European Parliament denouncing the idea without even giving it any consideration in terms of what the advantages might be. At times parties do have to act in the national interest and in the interests of the island. Has the Taoiseach had an opportunity to discuss that issue with the deputy First Minister?

I turn to what will happen when Mrs. May triggers Article 50. This is something on which we have to have legal advice from the Attorney General. What will happen to the European Union's legal relationships with the United Kingdom? We are given to understand that once the United Kingdom triggers Article 50, there will be no going back. Clearly, the court case may result in prolonged discussions, but essentially - as can be seen from the ESRI's report yesterday - it looks like Britain will be out of the European Union by 2019. Perhaps the Taoiseach might let me know if he has heard anything from the deputy First Minister and whether the island of Ireland's interests will be put first? I know that when elections were last held, it was not expected that the people of the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, would vote for Brexit, but it may be important to utilise all the votes on the island of Ireland in the interests of all the people on the island of Ireland.

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