Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste again for his reply. I would like to stress the need for the public to know that urgency is being attached to the talks and the restoration of the institutions. We talk at times about the restoration of the assembly and the Executive, but we also need to emphasise the importance of meetings taking place at North-South Ministerial Council level and at sectoral level. I reiterate that there has never been a more opportune time than now, when this island and our neighbouring island of Britain are facing significant challenges as a result of Brexit, for the workings of the North-South Ministerial Council to be optimised. It would be great for the political heads of Departments to meet to thrash out a common position on the issues arising from Brexit that affect all the people on this island.

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