Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I would not expect any British Prime Minister to consider or argue for anything other than that which he or she considered to be in the British interest. Let there be no mistake about it the British interest does not include what is good for the North of Ireland or for this island as a whole. It is important that is said out loud. It seems to me that the Taoiseach has sat on his hands until now, awaiting breathlessly the utterance of Prime Minister, Theresa May, in terms of what the British system proposes to do. He now argues that he is awaiting what other EU member states might have say in that regard. All of that is fair enough. However, it is now clear that the Taoiseach has no plan. That is very troubling. I am well aware that Article 50 has not as yet been triggered and that there will be a complicated, high stakes process of negotiation. Sinn Féin will take on any responsibility that it rightly shoulders in that regard.

It is clear that the Taoiseach, at this eleventh hour, has no discernible plan, vision or direction. All he has done today in this Dáil Chamber is repeat a list of issues. A list of issues is not a plan. It will not protect Irish jobs, Irish agriculture, our economy, our political institutions or the Good Friday Agreement. A list of issues is no good and no comfort to the citizens of the North who voted to remain. In regard to the Taoiseach's statement that he will protect this country, this country stretches beyond Dundalk into the exotic lands of Newry and as far as the Glens of Antrim.

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