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

I echo the comments made in memory of the Enniskillen bombing. What was the nature of the conversation the Taoiseach had with Ms Arlene Foster regarding Border issues post-Brexit? The preferred option of the Irish Government, that the United Kingdom as a whole remain in the customs union, does not now seem to be a real option. Of the remaining options, is it our preferred position that there be some border arrangement in the Irish Sea such that all east-west trade, that is, trade between the island of Ireland and Britain, would be treated in a similar manner? Did the Taoiseach discuss such an arrangement with Ms Arlene Foster and what response did he receive? How does he see it playing out as we approach the European Council meeting on 15 December? Does the Government have an effective veto on what the UK Government does in that regard? How do we maintain communication with the DUP and others in the North to ensure we will not antagonise them and can break the impasse as we broke the impasse here yesterday and this morning? How do we break the deadlock on this Border issue?

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