Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputy Brady. The European Council meets next week as the deadline for a Brexit deal between the EU and Britain fast approaches. The British Government continues to pursue an aggressive and destructive approach to negotiations, at the centre of which is Prime Minister Johnson's dangerous and reckless internal market Bill. The Bill cleared its final parliamentary hurdle in the House of Commons on 28 September and, as the Taoiseach knows, the provisions of this Bill contravene international law and are a blatant attempt by the British Government to renege on the protections for Ireland as set out in the Ireland and Northern Ireland protocol in the withdrawal agreement. This cynical attempt by the British Prime Minister to use the future of this island as a bargaining chip is central to the looming prospect of a no-deal outcome and this has been rightly called out by the EU. I welcome the fact that the Union has issued infringement proceedings against the British Government in light of the internal market Bill, especially given the very real threat it poses to the Good Friday Agreement and a prospect of the hardening of the British Border on our island. The President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, called it correctly when she said that the Bill is, by its very nature, a breach of the obligation of good faith laid down in the withdrawal agreement. Moreover, if adopted as is, it will be in full contradiction of the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The economic, political and social ramifications attached to any unravelling of these protections would be seismic. It would represent a profound double shock as we struggle with the impact of the pandemic. It is right that the Machiavellian behaviour on the part of the British Government and Prime Minster Johnson's persistent pandering to the Tory Brexiteers is to be checked and challenged in the courts. It is long past time that the British Government was relieved of the notion that it can simply walk away from binding agreements and treat Ireland and its people with such disrespect in the process. That is what we are dealing with here. We must remember that the Tories pursued their referendum in 2016 with zero regard for Ireland, engaged in a negotiating strategy with zero regard for Ireland and are dragging the people of the North out of the European Union against their vote to remain.

That is still their mindset as they attempt to engage the EU in a dangerous game of chicken, using Ireland as a bargaining chip in order to secure a favourable trade agreement. That is unacceptable. The people of Ireland cannot and will not be treated as collateral damage in a Tory Brexit.

Like the Taoiseach, I met Mr. Mick Mulvaney, the representative of the American Administration. Last week, I had a call with the US Congressional Friends of Ireland caucus. In both encounters I reiterated the very real need to stand up for Ireland and to ensure that the international community is aware and mobilised against the unacceptable threats from Britain. I am happy to say that across the Atlantic, they are resolute in their previously stated position, that is, that there will be no trade deal between the United States and Britain if there is any hardening of the British Border on the island of Ireland or any damage incurred to the Good Friday Agreement.

It is vitally important that every diplomatic means possible is engaged to show a unity of purpose and to ensure the Good Friday Agreement and our peace process are protected. Through its use of the Internal Market Bill, the British Government has undermined trust in its capacity to stick to any agreement that it makes. That in turn erodes the prospect of reaching a deal.

Therefore, the Government must be energetic and determined in standing up to London when Ireland's interests are on the line. That means the Taoiseach lifting the phone with urgency when Prime Minister Johnson does anything that endangers the agreed protections for Ireland. It cannot be left to ambassadors, as effective as they are, to carry these messages. It has to come from the Head of Government.

I hope that is the spirit and way in which he will approach this meeting of the European Council. It is not too late for the British Government to pull back from the brink and do the right thing, respect international law and honour its agreements. The Taoiseach must be to the fore in forcefully putting this position to Prime Minister Johnson.

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