Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that update and also for raising the matter of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. While we have many issues to discuss with our British and European counterparts, it is important these items do not go off the agenda. I, too, along with my party leader, Deputy Micheál Martin, met James Brokenshire just over two weeks ago. We have restated to the British, as I am sure the Minister has, that there will be no parallel bilateral negotiations with Britain post the lodging of the Article 50 letter.

I also stated to James Brokenshire my party's belief, and that of the Dáil, that Northern Ireland should be afforded special status as part of any arrangement, that this should be the negotiating position of the Irish Government, and that the British Government should advocate for the same. The British have rejected that and, unfortunately, the Minister also rejected it. Following a vote on a Sinn Féin motion, however, which was amended by Fianna Fail and supported by others and which was carried in the Dáil last week, has the Minister since advised the British of that Dáil vote and that it is the view of the majority of the Members of Dáil Éireann that, at the very least, our negotiation position should be that Northern Ireland should be afforded special status and that we advocate for the hundreds of thousands of Irish citizens who will remain outside the European Union post Brexit?

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