Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The question was about Independent Ministers in government but I notice that Fianna Fáil's negotiators are to report back to their party leader on the state of talks with Fine Gael to renew the confidence and supply arrangement. Will the Taoiseach or even the leader of Fianna Fáil enlighten the rest of us as to the state of play in that regard? What is on offer and what is being demanded? What timeframe will the new confidence and supply arrangement cover? What role, if any, will the Independents who are propping up the Government play? Are they party to these negotiations? What is their role in the process? What asks, if any, have they tabled or are they, like the rest of us, in the dark about all of this? It is now two months or thereabouts since the budget. We are told discussions and negotiations have taken place in that time. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, the parties of Government, talked a great deal about stability and certainty, not least because of Brexit, yet we have this most uncertain of situations. Will the Taoiseach enlighten us regarding my questions? I am sure that if he is not able to give full and comprehensive answers, his partner in government, Deputy Micheál Martin, will no doubt oblige.

See this speech in context