Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On the point made by Deputy Micheál Martin in regard to the clearly enunciated view of the Scottish First Minister that she wants a bespoke deal for the people of Scotland, in the same way as many have argued that a bespoke deal is required for the people of Northern Ireland, both of which by a significant majority voted to remain part of the European Union, has the Taoiseach, domestically or at European Union level, sought or received any legal advices on the feasibility, legally, of a special deal being done for Scotland or Northern Ireland? Has he had any discussions with the Scottish First Minister on her understanding of the legal possibility, within the architecture of the European Union, of part of the UK being permitted to remain in the European Union or to have a deal that pertains to it only and not the remainder of the United Kingdom at the time when the remainder of the UK exits the European Union?

Some of us had the privilege of meeting the First Minister of Scotland in Dublin. It would not be unfair to characterise her view of the British negotiating position as opaque. Would that be the Taoiseach's understanding based on his direct discussions with the Scottish First Minister? As I understand it, in terms of all of her interactions with the British negotiators, she did not come away with clarity as to what the UK position would be.

See this speech in context