Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is interesting to get a sense of the Taoiseach's conversation with the Spanish Prime Minister. Ireland has long historical relationships with Spain but also with the people of Catalonia and the Basque country. There is absolutely no reason why the Spanish should not, if they were briefed properly by the Taoiseach, understand why the North is actually a disputed territory. The British have a claim to it but so do the people of the island of Ireland. That is why the mechanism is in place. The Good Friday Agreement is an accord which does not include agreement on a destination and this allows the people to decide whether the union with Britain continues or whether we go for Irish unity.

Coming back to what the Labour leaders were saying, it is important to recall that sovereignty is vested in parliament under the British system. If one wants to know what way the British Prime Minister is feeling about the devolved administrations, one only has to listen to the Scottish First Minister. She castigates the British Prime Minister for her attitude.

Ms May has no intention of allowing the Administrations in the North or Scotland to have any real say on these matters. What should our Government's position be? It should be to uphold the vote of the people in the North. It is so simple. The members of the Government are the guys and girls that were preaching to us in the North about accepting democratic votes and the majority and all that. A very clear, cross-community majority said they want to remain within the European Union.

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