David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Again, the Minister has not answered the question so I will keep putting it until the Tánaiste or Taoiseach answers it. It is a fundamental matter, central to protecting the interests of the people of Ireland. The Minister spoke of full alignment, which we acknowledge as progress. The qualification that comes with full alignment is that it is only on the basis of alignment with North-South co-operation, the all-island economy and the Good Friday Agreement. These are clearly important. We have tabled parliamentary questions to the Minister on several occasions trying to understand what the "all-island economy" means. Trade is not an area that is mentioned even once. There is mention of education, health, research and innovation standards but there is no mention of trade at all.

We have concerns because this is not a bulletproof guarantee, as the Taoiseach has said. It is simply a political agreement between two governments. Nothing will be agreed until everything is agreed. There is a world of difference-----

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