Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My own instinct is that I believe a deal can be done. The last sections of negotiations are always the most difficult. It will require calm heads and further negotiation. I have the utmost confidence, as does the House, in the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, both of whom are involved in the negotiations at the coalface.

It is important that we deal here in facts. I was very disappointed that Members of this House chose over the past 24 hours to make claims derived, allegedly, from unidentified and faceless contacts in Europe. Such claims are baseless. The backstop cannot be temporary. EU solidarity is very much in evidence. I agree with the Irish ambassador, H.E. O'Neill, that every effort must be made at this stage to ensure obligations on the parts of governments that were entered into last December or otherwise and that were clear and concise in terms are honoured in full.

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