Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The British Prime Minister and the President of the European Commission met in Brussels last night. Today, British Ministers are in Brussels for talks with Michel Barnier. We are told that, thus far, the talks have centred on the interpretation of the backstop and what fudge can be sold to the House of Commons in that regard. We are all agreed in this House that the basic protections afforded to Ireland in the withdrawal agreement and in the backstop in particular are non-negotiable and cannot be unpicked or diluted in any way. As such, can the Tánaiste assure the House in the context of the ongoing talks that what has been agreed in respect of the backstop and its interpretation by this House thus far is what is on the table and will not be altered or watered down in any way?

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