Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach noted the importance of continued contacts with our European partners on Brexit. The media today are reporting that the British have agreed to pay between €45 billion and €55 billion in its settlement of the divorce bill. That will obviously increase demands by the British that the European Union meeting two weeks hence will accept this as substantial progress and move to negotiations on a new trade deal. That means there will be a focus on what progress has been made on two outstanding issues of the current negotiations, the Border and the status of EU citizens in the North. So far, there has been no detailed plan from the British for how they intend to resolve these matters. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, have been insisting, quite rightly, that no progress can be made to advance to the trade talks without real guarantees and commitments from the British on the Border.

I acknowledge that it is better to resolve all these issues diplomatically, but we are now coming to a critical point in the negotiations. The Taoiseach has a veto. Is he prepared to use it? I appeal to him to be resolved to do so. The right of citizens in the North to EU citizenship is a fundamental part of this. I appeal to the Taoiseach to ensure there is progress on both of these issues and that this be the Government's red line in the forthcoming negotiations.

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