David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It has. I read what it published a number of weeks ago. Effectively, it changed December's agreement, which was a solution for the North involving an alignment with the rules of the customs union and an extension of the implementation period. That backstop was meant to be an insurance policy in the event of there being no deal.

I am concerned that, although there may be a deal, it might not be a good one, that is, an agreement on the entire UK being a part of some sort of customs partnership without the North being fully in the customs union or aligned with the rules of the Single Market. If there is divergence in any area, it will mean a hardening of the Border and checks and inspections at some level, particularly in view of the fact that the rules of the customs union and Single Market will have to be enforced. That is the space we are in.

We had a backstop that we hoped would be at least a bottom line for Ireland. While the Tánaiste says that it has not been taken off the table, it certainly has not been placed on the table in the form of a legal text that would give effect to the December agreement. The British Government is resiling from the agreement.

See this speech in context