Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Maith thú. Tá a fhios agam an craic.

We have said consistently that it is crucial that the mandate of citizens in the North, who voted in June to remain in the European Union, is upheld. We are seeking to formalise the position of the Dáil in favour of special status for the North within the European Union, and to call on the Government to adopt that position. The Government amendment is not acceptable and Sinn Féin will vote against it. The AAA-PBP amendment, from a party which urged voters in the North to support Brexit, is also not acceptable.

The Fianna Fáil amendment accepts almost all our motion and adds a number of matters relating to the Good Friday Agreement, including the bill of rights, protection for the human rights elements of the agreement, future funding streams of PEACE and INTERREG. All these broadly reflect Sinn Féin’s position and are in our motion.

I regret Fianna Fáil, which earlier today told us it was supporting our motion, then chose to introduce an amendment without consultation. Notwithstanding that, Sinn Féin is willing to accept the Fianna Fáil amendment and to support the composite motion that will then emerge.

While I have not had an opportunity to study the Taoiseach’s remarks today in the Mansion House, the snippets I heard on the news did not inspire me. I will begin my contribution by expressing my deep disappointment with the Taoiseach’s comments today on Sinn Féin’s call for the North to have a designated special status within the European Union.

It is the first time he has said with such clarity that he is not in favour of a special designated status, or if he is, that he is not prepared to go against the British diktat on this. That reflects the deep flaw in the Government’s approach to Brexit. The Government is still thinking within the confines of the Twenty-six Counties state. It is not thinking of the future or of the historic nature of this Brexit move by, essentially, a majority of people in England and Wales.

The Government's position is dictated by what Britain wants. It also reflects the deep-rooted partitionism that infects the body politic in this State. The Taoiseach’s starting point was that the North is a part of the United Kingdom and if that state pulls out of the EU then so, too, must the North. That ignores the widespread opposition on this island to partition, including within the Fine Gael Party. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, while he does not say it publicly, wants to see an end to partition, and a united Ireland, as much as the rest of us. The Taoiseach's position also ignores the Good Friday Agreement which recognises-----

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