Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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1. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his conversation with the British Prime Minister, Mrs. Theresa May, with regard to the Stormont crisis. [1706/17]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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2. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the resignation announcement of the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Mr. Martin McGuinness, on 9 January 2017; if he was spoken to regarding it beforehand; and if he has spoken to the British Prime Minister, Mrs. Theresa May, regarding same. [1707/17]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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3. To ask the Taoiseach if the resignation of the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Mr. Martin McGuinness, will have an impact on the Brexit preparations and negotiations; and if the Government and his Department are making alternative plans for the upcoming Brexit negotiations as a result. [1708/17]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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4. To ask the Taoiseach if the resignation of the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Mr. Martin McGuinness. has damaged trust on a medium and long-term basis between Sinn Féin and the DUP; if this will limit prospects of future power-sharing; if alternative processes are being assessed; and his views on whether the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements remain intact. [1709/17]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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5. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his engagement with the British Prime Minister, Mrs. Theresa May on 10 January 2017. [1713/17]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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6. To ask the Taoiseach the contact he has had with Ms Arlene Foster MLA, former First Minister of Northern Ireland, since the resignation of the Northern Ireland deputy First Minister, Mr. Martin McGuinness. [1716/17]

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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7. To ask the Taoiseach if he has made contact recently with the First Minister of Northern Ireland, Mrs. Arlene Foster. [1744/17]

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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8. To ask the Taoiseach if he has had any contact with Mr. McGuinness since his resignation as Northern Ireland deputy First Minister. [1745/17]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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9. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his discussions with the former First Minister of Northern Ireland, Ms Arlene Foster, and former deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Mr. Martin McGuinness, since the latter's resignation announcement; and his views on whether the resolution of the difficulties in Stormont can be overcome and resolved by the political parties in Northern Ireland. [1903/17]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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10. To ask the Taoiseach if he or any of his officials has written or spoken to President Trump or any official in the American Administration regarding recent developments in Northern Ireland. [1905/17]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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11. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his conversation with the British Prime Minister, Mrs. Theresa May, in relation to Northern Ireland. [1987/17]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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12. To ask the Taoiseach the issues he has raised with the parties in Northern Ireland since the resignation of the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and his future plans. [1988/17]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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13. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his conversation with Ms Arlene Foster about the crisis in Stormont. [1993/17]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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14. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his discussions with Ms Arlene Foster on the current crisis in Stormont. [1995/17]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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15. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his meetings and discussions with representatives of Sinn Féin in advance of and following the resignation of the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. [2780/17]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 15, inclusive, together.

On Tuesday, 10 January, following the resignation of the deputy First Minister, Mr. Martin McGuinness, I met Deputies Gerry Adams and Mary Lou McDonald of Sinn Féin to discuss the developments in Northern Ireland. I then spoke by telephone to both Mr. McGuinness and the DUP leader, Ms Arlene Foster, to explore the possibility of a resolution to the difficulties. I urged each of them and their parties to engage with each other to find a way forward and avoid a collapse of the Assembly and the Executive.

Later that day I spoke with the British Prime Minister, Mrs. Theresa May, to discuss the situation. We agreed that our two Governments would continue to work closely over the coming period and that we would keep in close contact. We also agreed that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. James Brokenshire, would work together to see if a way forward could be found before an election had to be triggered.

I spoke to the British Prime Minister, Mrs. May, again on the evening of Monday, 16 January when it became clear there would be no nomination of a deputy First Minister and that, therefore, an election was inevitable. We repeated our desire to see the institutions established under the Good Friday Agreement operating effectively, in particular to have a fully functioning Executive in place as soon as possible following the election and the decision of the people.

As that election campaign gets under way, I call on all parties to enter into it in a calm and respectful manner. More than ever, this is a time for responsible and positive leadership. When these elections are over, whatever the results, the parties will be required to work together and with the two Governments to chart a way forward for Northern Ireland. The Government will continue to be very active in seeking an input into Northern Ireland's interests as we prepare for the Brexit negotiations.

I note that since our discussions, Mr. McGuinness has announced that he will not contest the next election due to his ill health. I issued a statement last week expressing my appreciation of his efforts to secure a lasting peace in Northern Ireland and wishing him and his family the very best as he deals with his illness. I am grateful for this opportunity in the House to repeat those messages.

I congratulate Ms Michelle O'Neill on her appointment as the new leader of Sinn Féin in the Northern Ireland Assembly and I look forward to working with her and her colleagues, and all of the parties in Northern Ireland, to ensure the stability of the Good Friday Agreement and its institutions into the future.

I have not had any discussions with President Trump regarding recent developments in Northern Ireland. I am also not aware of any contact between my officials and the American Administration on the matter.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We ran pretty badly over time on these questions yesterday. I ask Members to adhere to the clock. The first contributor is Deputy Micheál Martin.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have five of the 15 questions. First, I congratulate Ms Michelle O'Neill on her appointment as Sinn Féin's Northern leader. It is fair to say that Sinn Féin is probably the last party in a democratic country which can appoint or anoint a leader through the laying on of hands rather than a vote. I think it is interesting. There was not a whole lot of commentary about it either, which is interesting as well in terms of the degree of analysis and questioning of these issues.

I note that an independent inquiry into the renewable heating scandal has now been established in recent days and that involved a complete U-turn on behalf of the Minister involved. The worst aspect about this is that it has been set up in such a way that the people of Northern Ireland will be given no answers before they vote and all they will hear are the political claims and counter-claims.

We should also note Deputy Adams's speech here last week when he stated that Sinn Féin had never done anything wrong in government, had never ignored smaller parties and is completely spotless in spite of the revelations about party funding, sectarian appointments, etc. During Question Time yesterday, the truly incredible claim was made that others are to blame, for example, for the failure to establish the civic forum even though Sinn Féin closed it down and opposed its return. Using the phrase of the moment, they are offering so-called alternative facts.

The DUP has behaved appallingly over recent years and it has to change fundamentally or there can be no progress. The question is how there can be any progress if all we hear from the next largest party is denial and partisan pottering.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I thank Deputy Martin.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am just-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The time is up.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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What time have I?

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The same time as everybody else, two minutes.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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One gets more than one go.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Am I supposed to have two minutes?

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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In accordance with Standing Orders.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Only two minutes in a 15 minute slot, even though I have five questions.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Yes. The Deputy will get a chance to come back. The idea is that we will get several in.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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One never gets back. Can I ask? I did not realise it was only two minutes.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Martin cannot ask anything because the two minutes are up. I call the Taoiseach.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is ridiculous.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Martin-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I made my own point. The Standing Order is ridiculous.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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-----supported the adoption of the Standing Order.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have made many recommendations for changes, but other changes that have been made are ridiculous. I will say no more.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I told Deputy Martin to watch Deputy Ó Cuív's action on that committee.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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As Deputy Martin pointed out, there have been a number of comments about both the cash-for-ash issue, in respect of which a commission has been set up but answers will not be given before the election, and the requirement for parties to work together in the interests of the people of Northern Ireland. I hope that the election does not descend into a barrage of vitriol from either side because at the end of the day the people will make their decision. Whatever the revamped Assembly will look like is a matter for them.

What interests me is to continue to be able to work with the parties in a new Assembly in the interests of the Good Friday Agreement and the position in so far as Northern Ireland is concerned. We have a number of sectoral meetings coming up and a second all-island civic forum on 17 February. The voices of Northern Ireland are important in that because when Article 50 is triggered on a different matter, these issues will become increasingly pertinent as we move along.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The Ceann Comhairle will have noted that there was an informative, inclusive and not rancorous session of Taoiseach's questions yesterday in the absence of the leader of Fianna Fáil. I raised the question yesterday with the Taoiseach of his upcoming meeting with the British Prime Minister and asked whether he would raise with her the outstanding issues arising from the Good Friday Agreement. The Taoiseach stated an acknowledgement of my point and he agreed that, "significant elements of the Good Friday Agreement - some historical and some cultural - have not been implemented. These are matters on which we need to follow through." I am looking to the Taoiseach to do that.

I extend Michelle O'Neill the very best of good luck. We will give her space to find her own voice and she will lead our party. She is not the first woman to lead Sinn Féin. Maire Drumm was a vice-president of our party and she was murdered by Unionist paramilitaries. Michelle is one of our many younger activists.

The protocol in our party for making appointments is the same as that of every other party. I note that the leader of Fianna Fáil has yet to appoint a deputy leader. Perhaps he will get around to it at some point. However, the big question facing us is Brexit and it will be the backdrop to the elections. Sinn Féin's resolve is to continue the work that Martin McGuinness pioneered, despite him being ridiculed and castigated by the leader of Fianna Fáil as a leader of one of the problem parties. Why did he resign? Unlike the leader of Fianna Fáil, he would not stand by when allegations of corruption had been made.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Obviously, I congratulated Michelle O'Neill. I look forward to the meeting with Prime Minister May next week. Given the imminence of both the legislation in the House of Commons and the moving of Article 50, we will concentrate on a number of issues that are relevant to Ireland, such as our relationship with Northern Ireland, our relationship with the United Kingdom and the issues that have been mentioned already, including the Border and the common travel area. We need to discuss a number of matters relating to those areas, so I might not get around to having detailed discussions about the cultural or legacy issues of the Good Friday Agreement that have not been dealt with. Clearly, we will refer to this in our capacity as the co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement and it is within that structure that we will have those discussions. However, there are also questions regarding what type of situation will apply following the moving of Article 50 and the eventual withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Single Market. Other elements will have to be taken into account in that regard in terms of trading relationships. We look forward to that engagement. We will see how it goes.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In some ways this is a resumption of the conversation or discussion that took place yesterday. One could not call it a debate. I am not a lawyer but I was surprised by an element in the judgment handed down by the British Supreme Court. It basically said that the devolved governments and assemblies do not have to be consulted in the matter of Brexit. That is particularly significant for the island of Ireland and, obviously, for the Northern Ireland Assembly, which will presumably reconvene and elect a Government after the election, although that is not yet certain. To refer to some of the discussion yesterday, as the representative and leader of the Irish Government and its co-guarantor role in the peace process, has the Taoiseach had an opportunity to be briefed on the legal decision made by the British Supreme Court, particularly as regards the implications of the latter part of the judgment for the Executive in Northern Ireland and the other devolved governments?

Second, what is the implication-----

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy's time is up.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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-----for the Taoiseach's approach now?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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No, I have not had time to go through the detail of the judgment handed down yesterday by the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Obviously, the referendum was an aggregated vote. Northern Ireland and Scotland voted to remain, but the vote is aggregated throughout the United Kingdom. It is like where Donegal decides to vote one way in a referendum and a majority of the remainder of the country votes another way. The referendum is throughout the Republic. However, the Prime Minister said in her speech that she wishes to have the devolved administrations represented in the negotiations when they commence. The Deputy's point is that it would be her wish that the Assembly should have had the right to declare its view-----

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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No, that is not my point. My point is that the judges gave a clear judgment regarding the position of the devolved governments. I did not make any judgment on what might happen.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I will not make a judgment on the findings of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. The court has given its judgment but the Prime Minister said that she wishes to ensure that the devolved administrations will be represented and their voices heard at the negotiations.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are going to run out of time on this. Is it agreed that we will take five minutes from the second group of questions for this? Agreed.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I also congratulate Michelle O'Neill on her election and I again wish Martin McGuinness a speedy recovery.

To clarify the Taoiseach's statement that he met representatives of Sinn Féin, did he meet any of the Assembly Members or was it only Deputies from this House he met?

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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They happen to be the leaders of Sinn Féin.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I am asking a question, if that is allowable.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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He is being rancorous.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Did the Taoiseach raise with the Prime Minister the scenario of what might happen in the event that a power-sharing government is not put in place after the elections and the specific role the Irish Government would have in that eventuality? Also, to amplify the question asked by Deputy Burton, how will the Northern Ireland Assembly to be represented in discussions on Brexit in the same way as the other devolved administrations? When the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales meet, who will represent Northern Ireland and its people in the discussion on Brexit?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Obviously, the election process is ongoing and people still represent their constituents. I cannot answer the question about who will represent the Assembly in the negotiations.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Taoiseach did not raise the matter with the Prime Minister.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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What I discussed with the Prime Minister was the fact that an election was inevitable and was going to take place. My hope was that a working Assembly would be put together as soon as possible afterward. I did not discuss the question of a stalemate with her. However, Deputy Howlin will recall that the Secretary of State, Mr. Brokenshire, said on a number of occasions that they were not talking about a scenario of direct rule from Britain-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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He was talking about a second election.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Obviously, the people will make their decision on 3 March. Let them make it and see what the outcome is. My wish is that a working Assembly can be put together with which we will work. In the meantime, legislation is to be introduced in the House of Commons in respect of the exit position. The Prime Minister has said she intends to move Article 50 before the end of March. If discussions or negotiations on the exit start immediately after that, hopefully whoever is elected will be in a position to represent the devolved Assembly at those negotiations.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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When the Taoiseach met Arlene Foster, did he get any idea that she appreciates the gravity of the scandal surrounding cash for ash and the renewable heat initiative? Today, we see that the names of 1,000 beneficiaries of this botched scheme are to be published, although 300 are being held back by a court order. The Queen's counsel, QC, for the Department, who was pressing for the names to be released, described the scandal as a major depletion of the public purse for years to come. If fact, it is reckoned that £500 million of the public purse will be forfeited to those who benefit from this scandal. That sum is almost equivalent to the amount of money taken in cutbacks from the people in Northern Ireland in terms of job losses and services cut under the Fresh Start arrangement. Does the Taoiseach agree that, regardless of the outcome of the election, we cannot return to the old type of Stormont that was being used as a slush fund, particularly for the DUP but also for others? When these names are revealed in the coming days, they will include owners of poultry farms, mushroom farms and so forth.

Does the Taoiseach agree that the Stormont slush fund type of behaviour, which we are well used to in this part of the country, the corruption of golden circles and elites looking after themselves and their party connections, is not the type of Northern Ireland we need after the election? Whatever arrangement we come to, there must be a new type of politics in the North, as there must be in this part of the country. It will not be represented by the same old Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I did not discuss the cash for ash scheme with First Minister Foster. There is a commission of investigation to find out the reason to which the Deputy referred. I hope the commission acts speedily and effectively in the interests of the people of Northern Ireland.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Did Sinn Féin inform the Government that it was going to collapse the Northern Ireland Assembly and insist on an election? As a co-guarantor of the agreement, the Government would, surely, have been entitled to advance consultation, particularly from a Nationalist party. Was the demand that the First Minister step down during an inquiry raised with the Taoiseach before it was announced? Does the Taoiseach think a good-faith effort to resolve the problem should have included asking the Irish Government to mediate?

In the aftermath of the election, people will hope things will be restored but it is interesting that the Taoiseach is often attacked for not engaging. He is repeatedly told the Irish Government is a co-guarantor of the agreement and there should be consultation all round. Yet, it seems to me that these institutions were collapsed in a very hurried and destructive way. It is damaging, given that Brexit is the gravest threat to the island of Ireland. I do not see how the collapsing of the institutions of Northern Ireland can advance a proper response to Brexit, despite all the talk and articulation about it. I would have expected that the Taoiseach would have been personally consulted in advance of the bringing down of the institutions.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We have a decision to make. The time has elapsed. What do Members want to do about this block of questions?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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We will move on to the next one.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I would like to come back to this.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Can the Taoiseach briefly respond to the question and we will move on?

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I dissent from that.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I have three questions, so I expect to be able to ask another question if we are going to continue.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I agree with Deputy Gerry Adams. I would like to come back to it.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Can the Taoiseach respond?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I was not consulted in advance about the decision.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Can we get clarity first on what we are going to do? Are we going to give this slot additional time or move on?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Give it time.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Additional time.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Additional time.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Additional time. Okay.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I was not consulted in advance about the collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly. My reading of the reports and the indications, hearing this, that and the other led me to believe it might happen.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach will recall that I strolled across to him and told him of the seriousness of the situation in which half a billion had gone missing, a robust inquiry was needed and the First Minister was resisting it. He should also check with his Department, but I think it was Deputy Mary Lou McDonald who conveyed to the Taoiseach's Department the deputy First Minister's intention to put in a letter of resignation with a seven-day stay on it. I would like to hear some constructive remarks from the Fianna Fáil leader. Allegations of corruption and fraud were coming from within the DUP and the Minister responsible was refusing to countenance the sort of inquiry which would be proper in those circumstances. Should Martin McGuinness not have resigned? Should he have done what the leader of Fianna Fáil did for 14 years, just ignored these things and gone about his business?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is not true. The Deputy is giving "alternative facts".

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Gabh mo leithscéal. Should the undermining of the institutions and public confidence in them have been further eroded by our not taking a fundamental decision to give the people their say? That is what it is all about. It is not good enough for the Taoiseach to acknowledge that aspects of the Good Friday Agreement have not been implemented. It is happening on his watch and it also happened on the Fianna Fáil Government's watch. The parties in the North have to take responsibility for whatever they do or do not do but Governments have a responsibility and this Government in particular has a responsibility to hold the British Government to account.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Last week, the Taoiseach said the parliamentary liaison unit was available to all parties in the Dáil. In this context, could he undertake to have a briefing note prepared on the UK Supreme Court's judgment and to focus on its implications for the North, given the later part of the decision, which stated the devolved assemblies had no role? Could he identify who he thinks will represent Northern Ireland in the Brexit structures in the UK? If he says it will be Secretary of State Brokenshire - and the other Secretaries of State for the other regions of the UK - it will be deeply unsatisfactory. Given that what happens vis-à-visBrexit is significant for the whole island of Ireland, as the Taoiseach has acknowledged, he has a duty to give us more information. It is a moving picture and it is difficult for everybody involved. However, yesterday's judgment will heavily condition what the Prime Minister, Mrs. May has the power to do regarding a promised withdrawal and implementation of section 50. We need more information.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Time is up.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I seek clarity from the Taoiseach on the sequence of events. There will be an assembly election in Northern Ireland. Hopefully, a new devolved Administration will be agreed. However, based on the rhetoric we have heard, there is a distinct likelihood that it might not be achieved. It is important that the Government has contingency plans for this eventuality. If there is a hiatus, who will be the authentic voice of the people of Northern Ireland on the British side regarding their preparations for Brexit negotiations? If the First Ministers of Wales and Scotland are there to represent the very strong views of their communities, who does the Taoiseach envisage will be there? Surely he does not envisage it would be Secretary of State Brokenshire. Has this been discussed with the British authorities and what is the Taoiseach's view on it?

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I do not believe the Taoiseach feels any confidence that Arlene Foster takes seriously the understanding that Stormont collapsed because of serious corruption and scandals in the system. Maybe the Taoiseach does not take it that seriously, given that in this State we are well used to corruption and scandals in the system that have led to many tribunals that have taken years and cost millions of euro to complete. The Taoiseach would possibly be well suited to offer Arlene Foster an alternative job if things do not work out for her as a consequence of this election.

Our People Before Profit MLAs were the first to call for an election in Northern Ireland. I agree with Deputy Adams that it is an opportunity for people to give their verdict on the notion that one can run a state from Stormont on the basis of a slush fund for one's pals in the elites. This must end on the basis of producing an alternative type of politics. I do not get any sense from the Taoiseach that he believes Arlene Foster or the systems in the North or South are awake to that fact or that the only united Ireland we can see at the moment is on the basis of corruption, scandal and, possibly, low-tax havens for multinationals.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Northern Ireland Assembly has collapsed, there will be an election and there is not a First Minister or deputy First Minister. The election takes place on 3 March and I hope the people make a decision that will give us a working assembly in the shortest possible time. I made no suggestion that Secretary of State Brokenshire would represent Northern Ireland in the negotiations.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Then who will?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I made the point that when he was speaking recently, he was not talking about devolved government or direct rule from London. It is not for me to say who will be elected to the Assembly nor is it for me to dictate-----

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I disagree fundamentally with the Taoiseach on that one.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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There is no need for Deputy Burton to put words in my mouth by saying that the Secretary of State, James Brokenshire, would represent the devolved Assembly of Northern Ireland at the negotiations on Brexit.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Who will do so?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The First Minister of Scotland and the First Minister of Wales will do so for those devolved administrations. It is not for me to dictate which elected members will be representing Northern Ireland at these discussions.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Taoiseach has to have an input, however.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Taoiseach is co-guarantor of the Agreement.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Members should look at the sequence. The election will be on 4 March. Let us see if there is an Assembly in place after that. Before the end of March, Article 50 will be triggered. In the meantime, legislation will go through the House of Commons to give effect to that intent. Negotiations on the exit strategy commence immediately the letter of intent to withdraw-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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There will be a meeting of the devolved assemblies during that period in London.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Obviously, that depends on whether the parties in the North can agree on members to be nominated in the interim. Deputy Howlin knows that it is not our call to suggest that it should be elected member X or elected member Y.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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We could ask.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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What we are doing is working with the sectoral relations in Northern Ireland. We have the all-island second plenary forum on Brexit on 17 February. We are engaged, full-time and on an ongoing basis, in respect of the post-Brexit situation, which is what interests me in terms of both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland - as the island of Ireland - and future economic and trading links. There are some serious matters to be discussed.

Deputy Howlin asked me about a weekly update in respect of Brexit. It started last Friday but will not come out every week. Instead, it will be issued as needs be. Two have been issued since last Friday and 550 people have already signed up. The update gives not only the main headlines but also outlines the issues, the dates on which sectoral meetings will take place and other noteworthy matters. It will come out as necessary because if it were left until the Friday, much could have happened in the interim. On Deputy Howlin’s suggestion, this goes through and it will be updated automatically. People can sign on if they wish to have that update made available to them. Briefings from senior officials are available for the leaders of Opposition parties in respect of particular issues. These will also be contained in the update.