Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The priorities have been agreed to by the EU 27 and in the letter sent from Prime Minister May to the President of the Council.

Yes, we can have a debate here, as we will have on numerous occasions about elements of Brexit.

On Saturday, the 27 were anxious not to have a long and acrimonious internal discussion which would send out a signal that Europe itself did not have the capacity to agree on a structure and guidelines with which to negotiate. Those guidelines in the discussion were intense, extensive and went on for a long period.

On behalf of Ireland, I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs who attend the General Affairs Council meetings, as well as our public servants, ambassadors and diplomats who have worked not just within Europe but beyond to get out Ireland's message. There was not anything further to discuss about the guidelines per sebecause they already have been discussed extensively and agreed. Accordingly, it was a matter of the Council President saying that these guidelines, which have already been discussed extensively, are agreed and we go on to have a discussion about them. This is what happened. It was the adoption of those guidelines early on which sent out its own message that there had been extensive discussion and agreement that these guidelines were a suitable basis for negotiation.

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