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

The simple repetition of "no return to a hard Border" does not achieve no return to a hard Border. If we are to take Ms Theresa May and the Tories at their word, we are walking very close to a return to a hard Border. The Taoiseach will know, because we debated it in the Dáil, that a motion was passed proposing we seek special designated status for the North of Ireland within the European Union. That is the view of this House. What progress has the Taoiseach made in advancing that proposition? When does he propose to publish his consolidated document outlining his negotiating strategy? I do not know whether it will be a White Paper or what colour paper it will be on. I cannot discern any coherent strategy in the Taoiseach's approach. Perhaps that was evidenced by Deputy Burton's query on staffing levels but I do not believe it is just a matter of staffing levels.

The Taoiseach should be seeking a strengthening of the Council guidelines. Contrast the reference to Gibraltar with the reference to the North of Ireland and the island of Ireland. Gibraltar is a special case and has very special circumstances. It has a contested border, an internationally binding peace agreement and the constitutional and legal framework and architecture that go with that. Brexit will sabotage that. Let us not put any sugar coating on it.

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