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

We are now fast approaching the critical meeting of the European Council to discuss the next stage of the Brexit negotiations. At this point in the process, the Government has maximum leverage and may avail of a veto to secure the best comprehensive deal in our national interests. There is an effort in the British press and by the Tories to bounce us into some kind of vague, cobbled together deal, after which, I assume, they would move on without a second thought for Ireland, our peace agreement, or, indeed, our economy. There is a very real danger that the best interests of Irish citizens, North and South, will be sacrificed in order to allow Britain and the European Union to move ahead.

The Fianna Fáil Party, for its part, seems to have moved away from its stated aim to support the Good Friday Agreement and secure special designated status for the North. The party is apparently now prepared to settle for something far less.

I appeal to the Tánaiste that his Government cannot follow the lead of Fianna Fáil in this regard. The Government must take and argue the principle that any progress that does not explicitly contain protections for Ireland's economy, our citizens and the Good Friday Agreement really is not progress at all. That is the Tánaiste's duty. Ireland cannot become collateral damage. I do not believe the Government should be bought off with vague assurances in order to allow the wider talks process to proceed. This will be another test of the Taoiseach's and of the Tánaiste's leadership. The Government cannot back down in the defence of our national interests. The best way to secure our national interests is not this talk about regulatory divergence or convergence. Across Europe, and even within the British Government, it is accepted that Ireland is uniquely exposed with regard to Brexit. People recognise that Ireland requires a unique solution. That solution is for the North to be granted designated status, or whatever term is used. This means remaining in the Single Market, it means remaining in the customs union and it means the protection of the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts. That is Sinn Féin's position, it is the position of the EU Parliament, it is the stated position of the Dáil and it is a position from which the Tánaiste must not resile. It is vital that we have clarity and binding agreements. Without this the process should not be allowed to progress. Any talk of parallel processes is nonsense and dangerous at that.

Will the Tánaiste indicate if this is the position he will adopt in his meeting with Donald Tusk in Dublin tomorrow? Will the Tánaiste commit to using the veto if the Government does not achieve an agreement and if it is deemed necessary?

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