Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is true to say that the British Government has not come forward with proposals that follow through on the commitments it has made yet, but that is not to say that the backstop is off the table. The Deputy needs to make a distinction between what was agreed and signed off on by both negotiating teams in December and March and papers that have been proposed - but certainly not agreed - by both sides. The British Government, for example, put one forward on 7 June, which I accepted was a step forward but as inadequate to deal comprehensively with the backstop.

It is important to quote the British Prime Minister from her last major speech in the Mansion House:

We have ruled out any physical infrastructure at the border, or any related checks and controls. But it is not good enough to say, "We won't introduce a hard border; if the EU forces Ireland to do it, that's down to them". We chose to leave; we have a responsibility to help find a solution.

As far as I am concerned, we take our lead from the British Prime Minister in her public speeches and in her written commitment to EU institutions and Ireland. That commitment is clear. It is a commitment to having a legally operable backstop which deals comprehensively with the Irish Border issues in a way that is consistent with the December agreement, and to placing that backstop in the withdrawal treaty unless and until something else or something better is negotiated, which I hope will be the case, in the context of the future relationship discussions. That is where we need to focus over the summer months. I believe we can get there.

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