Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, Michel Barnier published two documents relating to Brexit negotiations. The first deals with essential principles on citizens' rights and covers the protection of EU citizens' rights and British nationals following Brexit. This is the one on which I will concentrate. The paper on citizens' rights sets out the protections EU wants to secure for nearly 5 million people who will be affected by Brexit, including Irish citizens in Northern Ireland. The document stresses that the European Court of Justice must have full jurisdiction for ruling on disputes about citizens' rights while the European Commission ought to have full powers for monitoring whether the British Government is upholding that part of the bargain. The British Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis, has already railed against this. Can the Taoiseach confirm when the Irish Government will discuss these papers with our EU partners and whether the Government has any amendments or proposed amendments to these papers? According to the EU, further policy papers are expected in the next few days. Will the Government agree to distribute all such papers? Colum Eastwood, the leader of the SDLP, has called for a referendum on a united Ireland following Brexit. Will the Taoiseach join me in welcoming this?

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