Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I have one key question in regard to the meeting with Prime Minister May and the role of this House. What is the role of this House when it comes to the final deal? The Prime Minister has been under huge pressure in terms of whether she would cede any vote or any call on it to the House of Commons or the House of Lords. When it comes to the end, and if, as Deputy Howlin or others have said here, it is patently a bad deal for Ireland, what are the powers of veto that we might have as one of the 27 and how would such powers be applied? Would any prospective deal be brought back to the House for consideration or is it something that would be exclusively decided within a European Council meeting and taken as a fait accompli, whatever our Taoiseach of the time decides?

I believe it would be appropriate for this House to be informed every step of the way but also to ultimately have a key role in any final deal. It is going to be of such consequence and it is appropriate for us to apply all the knowledge and different views of this House before any final call is made. How will this House get that power or what role does the Taoiseach believe it will have when it comes to the end point of these talks and negotiations in two years time?

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