David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We have consistently said that if the Government acts in the national interest, which means protecting all of the people of Ireland, then Sinn Féin will support it. We will be strong supporters of any Government which ensures that we get the best possible deal for Ireland in what are very complex negotiations on Brexit.

Our position has always been clear: we want to avoid any hardening of the border; we want to protect the Good Friday Agreement, in all its parts; and we want to protect the rights of citizens. In rhetoric terms, that is also the position of the Irish Government, the British Government, the European Commission and the European Parliament, all of which is to be welcomed. Some of the contents of the joint report that was agreed represent a degree of progress.

We have always said that the best way to achieve those objectives and high-level principles is for a special arrangement or special status for the North within the European Union. In the Taoiseach's response to an Teachta Adams on citizens, he missed that point entirely. The Taoiseach suggested that an Irish citizen who lives in the North of Ireland will, by birthright, be able to claim Irish and EU citizenship. However, he or she will not be able to vindicate that right because he or she will no longer be living in the European Union. What the Taoiseach said does not make sense. In addition, it makes a mockery of what should be special status and special solutions for the North. We have always said that the only way to avoid a hardening of the border is for the entire island, including the North, to stay in the customs union and Single Market, and for the Good Friday Agreement to be attached as a protocol to the eventual agreement.

What has been agreed is a backstop arrangement for Ireland. The backstop arrangement only kicks in if there is no trade deal between the United Kingdom and the European Union. This is important because the joint report states:

In the absence of agreed solutions, the United Kingdom will maintain full alignment with [the] rules of the Internal Market and the Customs Union which, now or in the future, support North-South cooperation, the all-island economy and the protection of the 1998 [Good Friday] Agreement.

We have asked for a detailed breakdown of what is meant by North-South co-operation and what is meant by the all-island economy. This is defined in a British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and relates to education and training, intervention to support research and innovation, development of the knowledge economy, and other areas. It does not mention trade at all.

What will happen in the event of a backstop arrangement where we have what the Taoiseach calls full alignment in these areas but not in all areas? Without full alignment in all areas of trade, what will happen when goods are imported from third countries into the island of Ireland and where country-of-origin rules have to apply in the event of no deal? Goods then cannot move north and south if they do not originate on the island of Ireland. If there is any area where there is not full alignment, it will mean a hardening of the border. I think the Taoiseach has missed that point entirely. That is glaringly obvious from the joint report, which has already been exposed as being full of holes in some areas. We have a responsibility to point out these concerns and ensure we get the best possible arrangement.

A question I asked the Tánaiste this morning, which he has still not answered, is: what is the difference between full alignment in the context of the all-island economy and the North staying in the customs union and the Single Market? If the Government had done its homework, it would know there is a huge difference. That huge difference is that it does not align all rules and regulations on trade - only some. If it only involves some, it means a hardening of the border. A hardening of the border goes against the principles the Government has set out as being the bottom line for the people of Ireland.

There has been some progress, which we welcome. However, there are genuine concerns that we, as people who represent citizens, North and South, have a responsibility to put to the Government and get answers, but we still have not obtained them. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste still have not explained to the citizens of the State the clear difference between full alignment in some areas and the North staying in the customs union and Single Market, which must be the main request of any Irish Government.

See this speech in context