Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

While I appreciate there are regular interventions and engagements between the Taoiseach and Ministers in a whole host of areas, it is slightly concerning that it has been a while since there has been a dedicated meeting of this Cabinet committee. It is important and I am glad to hear it is resuming at the end of the month.

I very much hope by the end of the month that we still have an Executive in Stormont. I hope that the idle threats being made on a daily basis by certain members do not come to fruition. The latest by the North's agriculture minister is in regard to stopping checks altogether. Acting unilaterally is yet another indication of the disappointing approach taken to an international agreement by so many parties.

As a supplementary question, will the Taoiseach in his response expand on the preparation that has been made at Cabinet level for any political eventualities leading up to the Assembly elections in the North in May? It is important this Government plays the most important role within the EU with the UK and with the Executive in Northern Ireland to ensure Brexit issues are kept front and centre. There is a concerning level of drift. As Europe and the UK understandably get distracted with other areas, it lands on Dublin. It lands on the Taoiseach’s Government to ensure this remains a centre focus.

See this speech in context