Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The EU has shown remarkable solidarity with us, which has been very welcome. We need that solidarity, particularly at this critical time. It is important that the other member states remain firmly behind Ireland and its position.

The amendment tabled by Tory MPs today in the British House of Commons seeking to change the backstop and seeking alternative solutions is of great concern. It is even worse to see the British Prime Minister backing that amendment but not stating what might be that alternative solution. Obviously if there is an alternative solution that does exactly what the backstop does and is better, we will be all ears. However, as yet we have not seen that alternative solution. After her team negotiated the current backstop, it is deeply regrettable to see the British Prime Minister now seek to abandon the backstop or undermine it significantly and state today that she intends to go back to Brussels to reopen the withdrawal agreement. What is the Government's response to that?

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