Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I also congratulate Deputy Mythen, my constituency colleague, on his maiden speech and look forward to many more such speeches in the years to come.

I will confine myself to three questions initially. Hopefully, the Tánaiste will be concise in his answers to those and I will have time for two further questions. I want to further push the point regarding an extension of the negotiation period. I am certainly of the view that we are not going to have an agreement within that timeframe, although I understand the Tánaiste will not say that. As a result, we need to know where we stand in terms of real dialogue, particularly with the unionists in Northern Ireland, in respect of achieving the consensus we really need in order to have a working relationship between our islands and between Britain and the EU. To achieve that, we will need a proper negotiating period and mandate, and an extension.

Related to that, if the impossible position outlined by the UK Minister, Mr. Gove, and others is maintained, and if that is not the negotiating position but the fixed and immutable position of the British Government, we are potentially talking about a Cabinet sub-committee working on a plan B or other alternatives to that. How are we going to develop the latter? Are we going to do it in a subterranean way or are we going go have democratic debate about that? What will happen if that fixed unacceptable position of the United Kingdom is maintained?

My third question is about solidarity. The Taoiseach referred yesterday to a display of European solidarity during the first round of Brexit. He is absolutely right, and many were surprised by how well that solidarity held. However, that solidarity is undermined a little by some of the actions of late, not in terms of Brexit but of Covid-19, and certainly in terms of the solidarity being expressed regarding the mutualisation of debt, for example, and facing up to particular matters. Is the Tánaiste confident that this solidarity will be maintained?

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