Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Since the Brexit referendum result on 23 June last year, it has been clear that the British Government intends to leave the European Union and bring the North with it in defiance of the vote of the people in that part of our country. It has also been clear that if this is allowed to happen, the land frontier between the European Union and British state will be on the island of Ireland. It will run from Derry to Dundalk, and that has also been obvious.

What has been the Government's response to this? Generally speaking, it has been to wait and see what the British might say next. It has been to watch their game instead of concentrating on our own game. The Taoiseach and the Fianna Fáil leader have bored us to tears - they have certainly bored me - with their idle speculation about what the British might do next, accompanied by lamentations that Britain is leaving the European Union. In fairness, the Taoiseach set up the civic dialogue after initially dismissing the idea when Sinn Féin first proposed it. I know the Taoiseach has said the priorities are trade, the economy, the common travel area, the peace process and the future of the European Union. That is fair enough but it does not match the significance or historical importance of what is happening.

Last week the British Prime Minister made a significant speech in which she reiterated her position. She also repeated her intention to withdraw form the European Court of Justice and she has already committed to scrapping the Human Rights Act and withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights. These are fundamental parts of the Good Friday Agreement. The Taoiseach's response has been disappointing and dismal. Clearly, we need to protect, as best we can, our trading relationship with Britain. That is taken as a given. We also need to resist the effects of Brexit on this island and State. All of the remaining 27 EU member states will decide the conditions of Britain's exit. I will quote the Taoiseach's former colleague, EU agriculture Commissioner Mr. Phil Hogan, who has stated:

There is a risk that Ireland could allow our relationship with Europe to be defined by our relationship with the UK. Instead, we should have the confidence to recognise that post-Brexit Ireland will need to have in place different relationships with our EU partners.

I suggest to the Taoiseach that the starting point for the Government must be to actively seek special designated status for the North within the European Union. That will uphold the democratic rights and vote of the citizens there. It will also ensure that the frontier between the European Union and Britain will not be on the island of Ireland. That is crucial for both parts of this island. It is also in our national strategic interests that the Government takes an all-island view of the future. I again ask the Taoiseach to assert this approach by embracing the proposition that the North should be given a special designated status within the European Union.

See this speech in context