Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are all well aware that since 1998, the Westminster Parliament has made no progress in preparing a bill of rights for the North. I presume that a bill of rights would be essential if we were to have the all-Ireland charter that is necessary post Brexit. Is the Minister concerned that in the new arrangements and architecture that will arise, there will be an interregnum whereby these safeguarding and human rights measures will not be in place? We must ensure there is no such interregnum or lacuna.

3 o’clock

Obviously, a difficult situation would emerge if the new structures were not in place at the time Brexit actually happens.

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