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

May I just finally speak about Brexit? Every time we have a debate on Brexit in this House, the latest development in Brexit is being judged as if it is the final outcome. Of course, there are problems with it, just as there are inconsistencies and concerns that the EU and Ireland would have about the White Paper published today. This is a negotiation. I have said this and people have questioned it, but in my view this has been a good week for the Brexit negotiations. There was always going to be a moment in time where the British Prime Minister would have to exert her authority and she has done so in the last week. We no longer have a divided British Cabinet. We now have a British position that is the basis, I hope, for a serious negotiation to commence next Monday in Brussels.

The EU also has a pretty clear position. The points of difference will now have to be the focus of an intensification of negotiation so that we can move beyond that. However, we are in a better place than we were a week ago. We should recognise that and we should shift from political commentary in parliaments to an intensification of negotiation in the negotiation rooms of Brussels through the summer months to allow us, hopefully by the time we come back here in September, to focus on progress that has been achieved and perhaps compromise that has been achieved between the two negotiating teams.

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