Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The questions he articulated are certainly on everyone's lips but, equally, I would have to say that for me to follow his invitation and to give my personal commentary on prospects would not be the best advice. The reality is that these are difficult issues that need to be resolved. We understand that. There is a huge urgency, as the Government has recognised. To be fair, in the aftermath of that appalling killing of Lyra McKee, there has been political initiative both by the British and Irish Governments and the parties have initiated talks. Clearly, it is our hope those talks will bear fruit. Everyone who has been assessing the prospect of Brexit recognises that this has unfortunately exposed some of the old fault lines that politicians find so difficult to deal with. We must be very conscious that we do not want to aggravate that while at the same time the reason we are holding out so strongly in regard to the negotiations on Brexit is that we have a universal commitment in this state to protect the Good Friday Agreement and everything that has been enshrined in it.

While I am not going to accept the Deputy's invitation to speculate on either the immediate prospects of a break through or the optimal timing for such discussions I would underpin the importance the Deputy is attributing to it. These opportunities to resolve these issue only come rarely and never has it been at a more crucial time for Northern Ireland when we have the prospect of Brexit occurring, and even the potential of a hard Brexit. The impact on-----

See this speech in context