Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On Brexit, Ireland has three demands. They are certainty that we retain an open border on the island of Ireland; guarantee the rights of Irish citizens across the United Kingdom; and have a close east-west trading relationship between Ireland and Britain. The first two issues form part of the withdrawal agreement under negotiation. The main focus of the talks has been on how to maintain an open border. Continuity of citizens' rights, as the Taoiseach acknowledged, is vitally important for the 500,000 Irish citizens living in Britain. We are not neutral on the outcome of the negotiations on the eventual future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union. I think all of us in this House would prefer to see a second vote take place and the United Kingdom to remain part of the European Union. Failing that, we want the closest possible trading relationship between us and the United Kingdom.

In that context, having listened carefully to what the UK Prime Minister actually said yesterday, she reported progress on some of the technicalities. She says the United Kingdom and the European Union have agreed legal text on the implementation period, citizens’ rights and the financial settlement. She claims that the terms of the United Kingdom's exit are now clear. She also says there is broad agreement on the framework for the future EU-UK relationship, with progress on issues such as security, transport and services. That is all welcome, but the sticking point is an open border on the island of Ireland. We asked the Taoiseach to avoid this scenario by getting agreement at the June summit on Irish concerns and again at the exceptional summit held in September. At the October summit it looks like the Border issue will continue to be unresolved. For the first time - I have been speaking to my European Labour Party and Socialist Party colleagues - I have heard the suggestion made that the Irish backstop issue might be postponed.

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