Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish the Taoiseach well in the negotiations over the next week in respect of Brexit as they are reaching a very serious point. The Taoiseach visited Belfast on Monday, 12 February. I do not know if he is aware that this is the 100th anniversary of women having the vote in Ireland and of Countess Markievicz's election. I was shocked and disappointed in the Taoiseach, as somebody who is very modern and into communication, as we know, as the picture of the Irish delegation was of six men. Perhaps the strategic communications unit was having an off-day. I am sure the men are all estimable but it was odd when compared with the British delegation, which I am happy to report reflected both genders. I do not know if the Taoiseach's normal focus on communication suddenly deserted him and he had a kind of tin ear, for want of a better term, to the fact there were no women in such an extensive delegation.

Did the Taoiseach expect a deal would be struck before he went there? Unless they are negotiators, principals do not go to such events until a deal has been tied down. It felt like two people had showed up to a party where, notwithstanding the fact that the balloons were ready, everything had been called off. Will the Taoiseach explain that to us? The Taoiseach and Tánaiste referred to the possibility of holding an intergovernmental conference as a way of progressing British-Irish issues in a way provided for in the Belfast Agreement. If that is not to happen, why is the Taoiseach holding off on that?

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