Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would be happy to have that debate.

Senator Colm Burke raised the issue of housing. We will have that debate tomorrow with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy.

I am happy to accept the amendment of Senator Ó Ríordáin to the Order of Business. I congratulate the Senator and Deputy Noel Rock on the Bill – it is an important one.

Senator Horkan is right in that the debate on the future of Europe is important and he is right to highlight the benefit and value of Europe to us as an Irish State and in the context of a post-Brexit situation.

The mistake the British people made was that they did not adopt the approach of the former Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny. This was to have a citizens' assembly and a constitutional convention on Europe as part of the discussion prior to the vote on Brexit. That might have helped with an informed debate. As Senator McDowell said, today is an important day with regard to the future of Ireland and the future of relations between Ireland and the UK. It is extraordinary to see today that the British Government is, according to newspaper and radio reports, now supporting an amendment that will eliminate the backstop to which it signed up and agreed. As the Senator said, it is about the protection of constitutionality not only for us but for the North of our country. We have come on such a great journey since the Good Friday Agreement. We have a duty, as does the UK Government as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to uphold what it stands for and what it means. I would be happy to have the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, come back when we know what happens in Westminster today.

I am keen to send a message on my behalf and on behalf of all of us to the effect that we stand with the Government in that we will not allow a situation whereby, as the Senator said, a number of mavericks within the Tory Party try to undermine our case. The Irish Government has been consistent since day one. It is now incumbent on the UK Government and the UK Parliament to come forward with new plans, such that we can have an agreement on 29 March. The backstop cannot be replaced. That is the bottom line. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, and the Taoiseach have been quite clear.

Senator Lombard made reference to the boundary change in Cork. We had a debate on the matter as part of the Local Government Bill. I would be happy to have the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring, come to the House as part of the debate.

I appeal to Senator McDowell not to divide the House on the important issue of the future of Europe. The question is extremely important but putting it as part of a debate about the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill would be unfair to the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee. I believe she is in Cork today. I will accept Senator Ó Ríordáin's amendment, but I will not accept the amendment from Senator McDowell.