Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the statement made yesterday jointly by Prime Minister May and the Taoiseach that they wanted a seamless and friction-free Border. That sounded to me like a very good soundbite. Could I ask how they jointly agreed to achieve that because if the UK exits the Single Market and the customs union unilaterally that would change the legal definition of the Border between the Republic and Northern Ireland? I do not know whether the Taoiseach had an opportunity to see "Newsnight" last night but that is exactly the point that was made again by the appointed person from the European Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt. How is that objective to be achieved?

I have two brief supplementaries. Has the Taoiseach thought about the possibility of sectoral agreements to cover vital interests between Britain and Ireland in parallel to the negotiations. Finally, does the Taoiseach have legal advice on whether the final agreement will require ratification by a referendum in this State?

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