Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

13. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent conversation with the British Prime Minister, Mrs. Theresa May. [5487/19]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I met with the Prime Minister when she visited Dublin on 8 February and we briefed each other on our respective engagements in Belfast and Brussels that week.

We discussed developments in Northern Ireland and our shared interest in seeing the devolved institutions restored as soon as possible. On Brexit, I re-stated the EU position that the backstop is an integral part of the Withdrawal Agreement, which was negotiated in good faith over many months, and was approved by the 28 EU leaders in November - and that it cannot now be re-negotiated.

No other solution has been found that ensures the absence of a hard border in all circumstances.

I reiterated our wish to see the Withdrawal Agreement ratified, so that negotiations on a close, comprehensive and ambitious future relationship between the EU and the UK can start as soon as possible.