Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Why break the habit of a lifetime? It seems that Sinn Féin Senators are bringing the Leader all the breaking news today. Just a few hours ago, the European Parliament in Strasbourg passed a joint resolution calling for the North to be protected within the Brexit process. We are very glad and proud, not least of the work of Martina Anderson, MEP. Some 516 MEPs voted in favour of that joint resolution. It is clear from the passing of the resolution that Ireland in its entirety does have many friends within the European Parliament. Like the motion passed by the Dáil in February of this year, it is a sign that people want to see Ireland's national interests protected. They want to see the Good Friday Agreement, our economy and our society protected and defended.

Almost all the co-signatories of this resolution were met by Martin McGuinness last year. He underwent a period of intense engagement with European leaders in the Parliament, the Commission and the Council. He made a very strong case, as no-one else could, that the European institutions needed to play a clear and definitive role in defending the Good Friday Agreement and all of its infrastructure. The joint resolution makes clear that there should be a defence of the Good Friday Agreement, that there should be no hardening of the Border, and that there should be consideration for special status.

We have had the European Parliament today and the Dáil in February calling for special status. I do not seek to come in here to play party politics with the issue. I hope the Leader will take me at my word. I make the case to the Taoiseach through the Leader because it is an important issue which we need to take very seriously. The Government needs to act on this sooner rather than later.