Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

On the issue of the Brexit negotiations I wish to add the voice of our party to what I hear is a fairly unanimous agreement on the approach in terms of the need to use the end of the first phase of negotiations to try to get as much clarity as possible on how we maintain a completely frictionless border. Our party supports the Taoiseach in the approach he is taking with the British Government despite the kickback he is getting from that side.

I would like to know the detail of what exactly we are looking for in terms of written commitment. What exactly is the Taoiseach seeking that would allow him to agree to move on to phase 2? I do not know if he can articulate that here. If not, he should be open to the possibility of using side meetings, as we did in the past, on the Brexit process in order that we maintain a well-informed, collective and committed agreement to the approach that is being taken. That would help us in Europe because we can keep our European colleagues briefed and supportive of the approach that is being taken. In the case of my party I refer to the European Green Party. That will not be easy.

I was slightly confused by what was said last week because in the previous week the Taoiseach said he was confident the talks would move on to the second phase. How can we be so confident of that if, as it seems, we are so uncertain about the British position with regard to the Border?

How does the Taoiseach explain the difference that has occurred in the past two weeks in terms of the sense of what is possible?

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