Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We will take five minutes each.

I note that Teachta Martin's fixation with Sinn Féin continues. In discussing the awfulness of the war in Syria, he mentions us in his prayers for the conversion of Russia. We have no truck for Russia or for any of the big powers. We are clearly against aggression of all kinds, unlike Teachta Martin, who seems to be in support of some of the forces engaged in Syria. All of them should cease their violent actions. Through the Taoiseach, we should raise these issues at the European Council meeting. We should be putting these issues on the agenda. The meeting is of key strategic importance because, although it is an informal meeting, it is primarily about the Brexit process.

The only thing that is clear at the moment is that the day is approaching when the British finally get around to making clear what they are going to do. We do not think the Irish Government is properly prepared for these discussions. We hope that a document we launched last week, The Case for the North to Achieve Designated Special Status within the EU, will inform the Government's negotiating position in the EU. I have sent copies of the document to the Taoiseach and other leaders in the Dáil. Essentially, we are arguing for an Irish solution to an English problem.

I remind the House that the Scottish First Minister told the Seanad recently that these "unprecedented times require imagination, open minds and fresh thinking". We need to think and act on an all-island basis and in Ireland's interests internationally and nationally. We can be sure that the British Government will be standing up for Britain's national interests. Therefore, the Irish Government needs to be doing exactly the same thing, but in an unprecedented way across the entire island. We cannot let our economy, our rights, our protections and our peace agreements to become collateral damage during the negotiations.

The Government has a habit of getting bad deals in the European Union. That cannot happen again on this issue, which is too vital for the people of this island to be short-changed in respect of it. That is why we are arguing for a collective focus on securing the entire island of Ireland within the EU, in line with the democratically expressed wishes of the people in the North. We talk all the time about the need to get the consent of the people in the North, which is something I agree with. This is an example of the people in the North saying "No" and not giving their consent to leaving the EU. I ask the Taoiseach to bring this message to the Council and to the informal meetings of Heads of State and Government on Thursday evening.

The Speaker of the Catalan Parliament has been summoned to appear before the Spanish High Court in Friday, 16 December. She is to be prosecuted for allowing a Parliamentary debate and a vote on Catalan independence. The Spanish state considers this public figure to be guilty of a crime because she facilitated a public debate on an issue of huge importance to Catalan and Spanish citizens. I ask the Taoiseach to raise the prosecution of the speaker of a democratic legislative body for facilitating a debate because it is putting at risk the democratic standards that people everywhere hold dear.

I join everyone else in commending the amazing efforts of the Defence Forces in rescuing 15,600 refugees. That is the size of a small county town. The members of the Army and the Navy richly deserve the European of the Year award. I say "well done" to Óglaigh na hÉireann.

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