Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach has indicated to my party leader, Deputy Adams, on several occasions that the Government intends to publish a White Paper on Brexit. The British Government is expected to trigger Article 50 next week if it overcomes the obstacles that have been erected by the House of Lords. That will create a step change in respect of Brexit, as it will mean we will move away from talking and speculating about Brexit and into the formal negotiation process. In light of the urgency of this matter, will the Taoiseach tell the House when he intends to publish the White Paper on Brexit? In his address to the Institute of International and European Affairs at the Mansion House several weeks ago, the Taoiseach told his audience the Government intends to seek EU funding to help businesses affected by Brexit.

The Government expects to fund the stabilisation and adjustment measures and the Taoiseach stated that he would seek support from the EU for this. Did the Taoiseach raise this matter with Mr. Timmermans when he met him two weeks ago? Did he raise the matter with Mr. Donald Tusk, Mr. Michel Barnier, Mr. Antonio Tajani or others he has met in Brussels? What response did he get?

What focus was given to the issue of the North being afforded special status within the EU during the course of the meetings? The Government has opposed this notion of special status but there is increasing support for it both here and in the North. The Taoiseach can see from the Assembly elections that the majority of its new Members, who represent a majority of citizens, believe in the need for the North to be protected from what could potentially be the devastation of Brexit. Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Alliance Party all support some form of special status for the North. As we know, a motion to that effect was supported by this House.

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