Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I reassure Deputies that there will be no appeasing of this approach. There will be no condoning a strategy that proposes to breach international law and undermine an agreement that the EU and UK signed together less than a year ago. That is why I, the Taoiseach, and others from various different political parties in this House, both in government and in opposition, have been saying similar things and expressing frustration and, quite frankly, surprise at the approach that it seems the British Government is proposing to adopt.

From my experience of Brexit negotiations, Ireland is empowered to influence final outcomes in its own interests by working as closely as possible with the EU task force. We speak to the task force on a daily basis and I regularly speak to Michel Barnier. On this issue, like so many others, I hope that we will have a significant input as to how the EU responds. We will be able to make a more informed choice as to how the collective EU, including Ireland, should respond to the course of action taken by the British Government when we see the legislation tomorrow.

Focus should not be taken away from the real prize, which is to get a deal that avoids tariffs and quotas being implemented on trade between Ireland, the UK and the EU next year. Despite the unwelcome distraction that this new problematic and illegal approach being taken by the British Government represents, we must focus on how to get an agreement between the EU and the UK that protects Ireland, both North and South, and ensure that, in January next year, we can continue to trade with our closest neighbour and friend in a way that minimises disruption and cost for businesses. Those are the issues on which Michel Barnier and I will focus. Despite the fact that the position that the UK has taken makes it more difficult to proceed on that basis, we need to remain calm, resolute and focused on the prize at hand in the coming weeks and months, although that will not be easily achieved.

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