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

I am quite disappointed with the Minister's response.

Our shared membership of the Union has given both countries a space to build and consolidate trust and to work in a formal way but with Britain's exit, that is at risk. That is why I and my party fundamentally believe that a new Irish-British agreement dealing with matters other than the peace settlement will be required. I do not believe that the mechanisms under the Good Friday Agreement are sufficient. It is clear that with Brexit, it is not business as usual and we cannot go on with this idea that it is. A new British-Irish agreement would be a way of strengthening the links between our countries, in particular, consolidating the links North and South.

From the Minister's answer, the sum total of our response appears to have been the appointment of two additional diplomats in London. That is simply not sufficient.

It shows a lack of vision and a lack of desire to prioritise the relationship between the two countries and consolidate the Good Friday Agreement. We need more than this. We need more than a British-Irish Council and a British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. We need a desire on the part of this Government to stand up for its citizens.

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