Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Minister and we do not believe the Irish position should be diluted in any way. It heartens me that we are looking at our own ideas. The responsibility is within Britain but there are some within the British Cabinet whom I would not trust to look after my local football team, let alone to find a solution for the North of Ireland and the future relations of Britain, the European Union and Ireland, North and South. It is also our responsibility to be constructive and find solutions because east-west and west-east trade is, as the Minister said, crucially important. I and my party hope that common sense will prevail but there should be no dilution of the Irish position. We should stand firmly with the EU 27. There are some who believe this process can go on forever but it cannot. It is starting to have an effect and Brexit is biting already.

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