Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

While the Taoiseach and Deputy Martin were speaking, I had a chance to research what people have said about this enormous development in European policy. The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, the Taoiseach's friend, has allied herself to the cause. Recently, she stated we have certainly learned from the history of recent years that there will be a European Union with different speeds and not all will participate every time in all steps of integration. The Italian Minister with responsibility for Europe stated they want to have a core shared by everyone and specific policies in which certain countries can move ahead without other countries imposing a veto. In the normal course of events this would be simply the old dispute between the old core European countries and newer countries. The Taoiseach stated that recently he visited Poland. They want less Europe and the older core countries want more Europe, but we are becoming the meat in the sandwich. What is our status with regard to Brexit? The core countries are making it clear that once Britain is gone they will move to have a two speed European model. Has the Taoiseach even had a discussion in Cabinet on this major European policy development-----

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