Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach also nominated me for the position of vice president, which was selected by the plenary session. I am delighted to be able to maintain a relationship with the UK delegation in the plenary session, which will be the only international forum in which there can be interaction with this country if the UK leaves the EU. That very important relationship can continue to be fostered within the Council of Europe. We had a bilateral session at the last Council of Europe plenary session with the UK delegation that was very effective and successful.

I urge the Taoiseach to continue his efforts to get a government in Northern Ireland. We need a government there as it is the missing link in the chain in dealing with Brexit and with our situation. I urge all the parties in Northern Ireland to come to the table. I urge the Taoiseach to give it major priority because it complements his work on Brexit.