David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, on the Order of Business, I called for statements on Brexit, given reports which have been published, and in some cases leaked, in recent times. I was told that was not possible, but if I tabled a Topical Issue matter, the issue would be heard. However, there is no sign of the Minister with responsibility for this area. That is an absolute disgrace. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Simon Coveney, should be here to hear the concerns of the three Sinn Féin Deputies on this issue. For whatever reason, he has not bothered to turn up. If we was not in a position to be here, we should have been informed, which is the rule under Standing Orders. I want to protest in the strongest possible terms, given the gravity of these issues, that the Minister is not here. I mean no disrespect to the Minister of State who is sitting across from me.

Yesterday, when I raised this issue following a leaked report from European officials which cast doubt on the viability of the backstop arrangement agreed last December, I got a very flippant response from the Taoiseach. He said that it was just a leaked report. That is the case, but it still a report, and it still raises serious doubt. Back in December, the backstop arrangement was called a "cast-iron guarantee". It quickly went from cast iron to a political agreement and then to a gentleman's agreement. When the European Union published what it saw as a legal text that would translate the political agreement into an actual protocol, it was dismissed out of hand by the British Government. Then we had the draft withdrawal agreement, huge swathes of which have not been delivered.

I was not looking for a response from the Minister of State across from me, but rather one from the Minister with responsibility for this issue, who is in constant contact with European officials. I wanted him to update this House and he is not in a position to do so. I think that is bad faith on behalf of the Minister. My party has given full support to the Government on Brexit so that we can get the best possible result for Ireland. We need information to be given and if the Minister is not in a position to attend to give us that information, it is bad faith on his behalf.

See this speech in context