Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is one of the reasons why I would like to see a Northern Executive established because I would like to see the parties in Northern Ireland come together and stand over the joint letter written by Arlene Foster, MLA, the late Martin McGuinness and others, which they sent only a few months ago. Although it does not say it, the contents of that letter are not far off an arrangement where Northern Ireland would effectively remain in the customs union and the single European market. Perhaps the DUP has hardened its position since then, and it would appear to have done so, based on some of their statements. If a Northern Ireland executive can be established, surely the co-equal First Minister and Deputy First Minister, joined at the hip, will stand over the letter written some months ago, and ask the British Government to deliver on that. Ultimately, if Northern Ireland asks to stay in the customs union and single market, London will not refuse that. This request has to come from the North.

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