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

I too invite the Taoiseach to make a response to the joint statement from Sinn Féin, the SDLP, the Alliance Party and the Green Party. It sets out clearly the majority view of people in the North that the island would remain in its totality within the customs union and the Single Market, and goes further in that Britain might also remain within those arrangements. It also makes clear that the backstop as agreed last December represents a minimum bottom line. I think this brings a level of clarity, particularly in circumstances where we see that recent polling data suggest sentiment in the North of Ireland to remain has increased quite dramatically since the Brexit referendum. A response to that from the Taoiseach, as Head of Government, would be welcome.

What progress has been made in respect of the calling of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference? To answer Deputy Burton, we reckon it is the best mechanism available to us at this stage to kick-start that very pathway back to the power-sharing institutions.

Has the Government made a decision in respect of appealing the ruling by the European Court of Human Rights regarding the hooded men? As the Taoiseach knows, the appeal must be made before 18 June, so time is running out.

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