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

On the additional seats in the European Parliament, is the Taoiseach open to the idea of people from the North of Ireland being afforded a seat and an opportunity for representation in the parliament given that everyone born on the island is entitled to Irish citizenship and, by extension, European citizenship? I commend that idea to him.

I met Michel Barnier yesterday to discuss the draft withdrawal agreement. I am pleased to see that they are holding firm on the backstop option and the efforts to protect the Good Friday Agreement and avoid a hard border on the island.

The British Prime Minister, Theresa May, came out with a rather outlandish suggestion that the Canadian-US border might be looked to for inspiration, an idea to which the Taoiseach has responded. It does not auger well for the British contribution or its ability to come up with solutions rather than political rhetoric. Can the Taoiseach tell us whether or not Mrs May and the Conservative government has indicated when they might come forward with real solutions rather than fantasy?

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