Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Last evening, party leaders were invited to a meeting with the Taoiseach for a briefing on the Government's position paper in the wake of the EU Council meeting on Brexit. The meeting was a farce. We were not furnished with an advance copy of the 60-page document, or any copy for that matter, which meant that a discussion on the Government's published approach was not possible. The meeting was effectively abandoned. This reflects the Government's persistent refusal to consult properly with the leaders of the Opposition on important issues such as this.

Sinn Féin has consistently advocated that the Government take a stronger position on Brexit. We made detailed submissions to the Taoiseach both before and after the draft EU negotiating guidelines were published. Following our recent criticism, in response to Deputy Pearse Doherty the Taoiseach advised us that the Government had submitted further wording in advance of last Saturday's meeting of the 27 EU member states. However, the Dáil has not been told what these amendments were. I can find only one minor amendment in the agreed text. That is what the Government got into the text. What it did not get into it was a commitment that there would be no agreement on the Border or on the status of the North without a separate and binding agreement between the Irish Government and Britain. That would have been similar to the position secured by Spain in respect of Gibraltar. I suspect we did not get that because we did not ask for it. Irish unity was not mentioned in the initial draft guidelines. Again, I suspect that the Government did not ask for it. It is not in last Saturday's guidelines either. Did the Government even try to have it included? The Taoiseach refuses to tell us, so perhaps the Minister, Deputy Bruton, could let us know. Instead, the Government settled for it being in the minutes of the meeting.

While that is a welcome development, it is no accident that it is not reflected in the directives published by Michel Barnier today. His negotiating directives for the European Commission are in line with the European Council guidelines. That means they are generally vague and aspirational. That is neither Michel Barnier's nor the European Commission's fault, but the responsibility of the Taoiseach. Mr. Barnier is well disposed towards Ireland but he can only do what he is asked to do. The record is pitiful and lamentable. The record of this and the last Government in dealing with our European partners is not a good one. The European Council guidelines could have gone considerably further. We all know there is a recognition in the European Union of the special unique circumstances faced by Ireland as a result of Brexit, but a stronger approach by the Government could have achieved a great deal more. This means there is a huge amount to do in the forthcoming negotiations.

I do not know if the Taoiseach will be around to follow through on that or whether he will hand the task to somebody else when he finishes his long goodbye. Will the Minister implore the Taoiseach to seek support for designated status for the North within the European Union, in other words, to keep the entire island within the EU, and insist on a veto for Ireland on any deal that does not include that provision?

See this speech in context