Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to clarify Deputy Howlin's question, which I have answered previously. Second or third-hand reports generated into headlines are not what I was talking about. The Good Friday Agreement clearly contains within it the opportunity in the future, if so desired by the people, North and South, to vote in a referendum on the question of Irish unity. In other words, if there was a strong feeling and a strong motivation among people in Northern Ireland arising from a Border poll or whatever and the majority view was to join the Republic and form a united Ireland, that is provided for in the Good Friday Agreement and successor agreements. Brexit negotiations and discussions, whenever Article 50 is triggered, will have to include that wording and that principle in order that at some future time, were that to become a reality, the conditions applicable under the Agreement would apply. As Brexit will then have been implemented and Northern Ireland will be outside the EU, there should not be a long process if the people there wish to join the Republic in a united Ireland as a member of the Union in the same way that applied when East Germany was assimilated into West Germany. I was not suggesting what the headline said. I was making clear that in the discussions and negotiations that will arise, the principle, wording and understanding in the Good Friday Agreement, an internationally legally binding agreement, would be clearly put into the negotiated wording. I will do that from the EU's side of the table. This is an internationally binding agreement, as Deputy Martin will be well aware.

Deputy Adams asked about the question of Brexit meaning Brexit and standing up for people's rights. I have identified our priorities on many occasions: jobs, citizens, economy, relationship with Northern Ireland, the peace process, relations with the UK, the common travel area and our future relationship with the EU. When I met Prime Minister May, a number of things became clear. First, she said she would trigger Article 50 before the end of March. Second, there will be no return to a hard Border. Third, there will be diminution of the benefits of common travel area between the two countries which has applied since 1922. Both governments agree with that. Implementing that will be an outcome that we look forward to arising from the discussions and the negotiations that will take place. That is where our priorities are and will continue to be.

The Deputy referred to qualitative differences and special status and so on.

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