Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach referred in some detail to the Brexit negotiations and the relationship between the Government and the government in London. He made the not unreasonable observation that he awaits a proposal from the British Government in respect of the Border issue on the island. I draw his attention to the utterly shambolic state of play in the British Government in respect of putting together anything that could be regarded as a coherent proposal. I direct him to a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee at Westminster on Monday, at which officials from the Home Office made it clear that no work had been done on this issue. When they were asked how many contingency plans they had drawn up for the Border, the reply of one civil servant, which merits direct recording, was, "That's contingent on what you call a contingency plan." This is what we are dealing with.

I commend the Taoiseach on steering a steady course by insisting that matters in respect of Ireland, including the Good Friday Agreement and, in particular, the Border, must be dealt with. Will he rehearse for Deputies the capacity within his Department for dealing with Brexit? Will he provide some detail on the direct liaison he has with Downing Street and the British Prime Minister? Has anything additional been done or introduced to lock down that dialogue and try to get some kind of rhyme or reason from No. 10?

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