Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The section of the Taoiseach's comprehensive response in which he referred to Northern Ireland was quite orthodox. I am intrigued by a quote that was attributed to the Taoiseach in an article in The Irish Timesheadlined "Kenny says Brexit could bring about united Ireland" on 25 November last. The article began:

Britain's exit from the EU could result in an "uncomplicated route" to a united , Taoiseach Enda Kenny told a private fund-raising event. again raised the prospect of a united Ireland as a possible outcome of Brexit at an event for one of his backbenchers.

Would the Taoiseach care to share with us what exactly he said at that meeting? It might be better for him to clarify the matter rather than having this quote out there. What was the thinking behind the Taoiseach's statement?

I am still a little confused about the exact working of the new EU division within the Department of the Taoiseach. It is now a merged EU-Northern Ireland division. Under the previous Administration, many staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, headed by an assistant secretary, were transferred on secondment to the Department of the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach has now told us that there is a new EU division in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade itself. Are two units of officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - one in the Department of the Taoiseach and the other in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - dealing with EU affairs? How is the "co-ordination" mentioned by the Taoiseach happening? There is an assistant secretary in each division. How do they relate to each other? How do they relate to the Taoiseach and to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, who has the front or lead position in relation to foreign policy under the Constitution?

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