I welcome the opportunity to speak today on the issue of Brexit, an issue that dominated political discourse in 2019 and has been overshadowed in 2020 by the Covid-19 pandemic. As the Tánaiste said, Brexit has not gone away and it is far from done. The impending deadline of 1 July, the date by which the UK must decide if it wants to extend the transition period by either one or two years, has brought the issue back into sharp focus. The revised withdrawal agreement, agreed in October 2019, was in many respects only…

I am sharing my time with Deputy Brendan Smith. The Tánaiste said two rounds of negotiations have taken place so far, a third round will take place next week and a final round in June. The indications are not very positive at this stage and there is no indication that the UK will seek an extension. The Tánaiste did, however, report some progress on the protocol on Ireland, and that is good to hear, but we know what Michael Gove has said about the proposed EU office in Belfast. It has obviously become an issue. My p…

I welcome this debate. It is important that the House is kept updated on developments in the European Union, despite the uncertainty on Government formation. There are huge challenges facing the European Union, some of which were dealt with at the European Council meeting last month. These include negotiations on the 2021-2027 multi-annual financial framework, MFF; the Brexit negotiations; climate change and the EU green deal; the spread of Covid-19; the conflict in Syria; the faltering EU-Turkey migration agreemen…

We have had a long debate. I would like to ask the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, about the upholding of European values and ideals and the rule of law I mentioned earlier in my contribution. What is the position regarding the proliferation of LGBT exclusion zones in Poland? There has also been the undermining of an independent judiciary and free media in Hungary. Ireland has spoken out about these developments. Will the Minister of State update the House on what exactly is happening at European Council level o…

I thank the people of Dublin Bay North for re-electing me to Dáil Éireann. It is a great honour to be elected to this House and I never take it for granted. I undertake to represent them to the best of my ability during the Thirty-third Dáil. It is important that we have a Government put in place as soon as possible. Significant issues and challenges face this country. As we speak, a European Council meeting is taking place and issues relating to the multi-annual financial framework, MFF, are being discussed. These…