Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the considerable work done in recent weeks, particularly over the weekend, to seek an agreement. I refer to the work done by Ministers, officials and diplomats in Dublin, Brussels and elsewhere. I very much regret that it was not possible to conclude the deal yesterday, as had been envisaged, agreed and sequenced.

The Government very much wants to move to phase 2. It does not want to hold things up. It is absolutely in our interests, as a country, to move to phase 2 because it is about the future trading relationship between the United Kingdom, Ireland and the rest of the European Union. If one is an importer, an exporter, a farmer or a worker in the agrifood sector, or if one's job depends on trade with the United Kingdom, one wants to move to phase 2 and so do we.

Phase 2 also deals with the transition period which is so important because it will give people and businesses time to prepare for any permanent change that might take place. It also deals with really important matters, with aviation being just one example. It is a question of making sure planes can still fly and that airlines can agree schedules for the summer and autumn next year. We cannot move to phase 2, however, until we have the assurance we need that there will be no hard border and the assurances we have been promised for 18 months or even longer.

As things stand, the ball is very much in London's court. The Prime Minister, the European Commission and the negotiating teams have asked for more time. We are happy that there should be more time. The European Council is not due to meet until Thursday of next week, 14 December; therefore, there is time to put the agreement back on track. I understand the Prime Minister is managing many difficulties in the United Kingdom. The European Union negotiates together with Ireland; we have the one negotiating team and that team is waiting to hear from London as soon as its team is ready to speak to us about events.

With regard to the unionist community in Northern Ireland, the Government and this Parliament respect the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts. We have no hidden agenda. We respect the constitutional status of Northern Ireland, which is that Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom until a majority of the people in Northern Ireland say otherwise. We do not want there to be a border in the Irish Sea any more than we want there to be a border between Newry and Dundalk or between Letterkenny and Derry. Our aim has always been practical - to allow people to live their lives and carry out their business in the normal way in which they have done it for 20 years. I refer to cross-Border workers, people involved in business, traders, exporters and students living in one jurisdiction and studying in the other. That has always been our objective. We were against Brexit in the first place because of the risk of the disruption that could be caused by it and the imposition of the Border.

It is important not to forget to mention the nationalist community. I know that Deputy Micheál Martin did not deliberately forget to mention it, but it is important that it be mentioned. We say to the nationalist community in Northern Ireland that we will protect its rights and freedoms and also protect the peace to which it is equally entitled to enjoy. We recognise that there is not just one political party in Northern Ireland; there are many. We will listen to, respect and engage with all political parties in Northern Ireland.

We will recognise the fact that the majority of people in Northern Ireland, and the majority of constituencies in Northern Ireland, did not vote to leave the European Union.

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