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

I thank the Minister. The Tory manifesto put before the electorate contains a rather vague commitment with respect to the Northern Ireland position. It states: "As we leave the European Union, we recognise Northern Ireland's unique circumstances and will seek to ensure that Northern Ireland's interests are protected." The phrase "will seek to" does not reassure any of us, and I am sure it does not reassure the Minister. The Minister may not have had the opportunity to ask the Secretary of State what his party and Government mean with that phrase. I suggest to the Minister that with the negotiations taking place with the new British Government, the Irish people would want to know as soon as possible what is meant by "as frictionless" a Border as possible and the meaning of "no return to the borders of the past". Will the Minister ensure that at an early stage in the negotiations with the new British Government, he will be able to give the people I represent and all those on this island a commitment that there will be no return or impediments in any way for people travelling North or South or anywhere within the island following Brexit? We need a clear message for the people of this island that there will be no countenance of a return to the impositions on travel, whether affecting people, goods or services.

See this speech in context