Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is welcome to hear the Taoiseach had constructive meetings yesterday. At the recent Ireland's Future event, in which I was glad to participate, concern was expressed by all present about the vacuum in Northern Irish politics with the continued failure of restoration of the institutions of the Executive and the assembly and the looming deadline of 28 October set by the British Government. Will the Taoiseach update the House further on whether the Irish Government has taken a position on this looming deadline? Does the fact of the deadline, if an election were to proceed after 28 October, amount to granting the DUP a veto over the assembly on the issue of the protocol? Does conflating restoration of the assembly with resolving the issues with the protocol amount to rewarding those who have been holding the political system in Northern Ireland hostage? Do the Taoiseach and Government have concerns that this will be the case if an election is called because nothing can be done to resolve the deadlock between now and the imminent deadline of 28 October?

See this speech in context