Yesterday, we had statements on last Friday's vote by Britain to leave the European Union. The Taoiseach, during a lengthy contribution, said he regretted that decision and hoped the gains of the past two decades with regard to North-South co-operation were fully protected. While I welcome his comments in this regard, at no point in his contribution did he acknowledge that the North had voted to remain, nor did the Fianna Fáil leader, excluding one passing comment the purpose of which was to attack Sinn Féin's demand for a referendum on Irish unity. Indeed, we have the bizarre situation where a leader of a so-called republican party advocates support for the Scottish Government's position of not being dragged out of the EU but does not support the same position for part of this country that voted to remain.

It is incumbent on the Tánaiste, the Taoiseach and the Government in the wake of Brexit to respect the wishes of the electorate in the North. The result of last week's referendum will have huge implications for the island, the peace process, the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the ongoing stability and welfare of communities across the North of Ireland. There are also very real practical difficulties citizens will face. Take the case of students from the South attending university in the North. What about those who travel across the Border frequently for business or who live in Border regions and criss-cross the Border for their social and family lives? What about those who live in the North and work in the South?

The British establishment, which barely mentioned the North during the course of the Brexit campaign, does not understand the seriousness of these issues. There is now a huge responsibility on the Irish Government to think nationally, and I mean that in the real sense of the word. I mean 32 county-wide. It means ensuring full co-operation between the Government and the Northern Executive. That means working to promote the interests of the whole island and the North in particular in negotiations at EU level. It means supporting the right of Ministers in the North to deal directly with the EU institutions. The people of the North have the right to have their voice heard and their vote respected. Will the Tánaiste support those measures that I have outlined and commit to ensuring that proposals for co-operation are brought to the North-South Ministerial Council meeting next Monday?

Along with most of my colleagues in the House, I had advocated a different outcome in the UK referendum. However, I fully respect the decision that the people of the UK have made. It is very important in the immediate aftermath of that decision that we recognise that there will be no immediate change to the free flow of people, goods and services between our islands. We have engaged in contingency planning across all Departments and that will continue. The Taoiseach gave an outline of some of the issues. He is attending the Council meeting today and he will also attend the meeting tomorrow. We have a North-South meeting on Monday where undoubtedly these issues will be further discussed. I assure the Deputy that the Government will be fully involved in all negotiations to represent Ireland's interests.

With respect to the particular points the Deputy made, I note on Monday, 27 June during a debate in the Assembly, a joint position from the DUP and Sinn Féin was put forward by the First Minister in a statement on behalf of herself and the Deputy First Minister. This emphasised their determination to work together in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland and outlined the establishment of teams in the Northern Ireland civil service to work with Dublin, London and Brussels on dealing with the outcome of the referendum. This is consistent with the position of the Government, which has made clear the priority it attaches to the implications for Northern Ireland in the negotiations which lie ahead.

We underlined the primacy of the Good Friday Agreement in setting out the relationships on and between these islands. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will be in Belfast for the bilateral meeting with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the review meeting of the Stormont House Agreement and Fresh Start. The latter will be attended by the First and Deputy First Ministers. They will discuss the referendum and its implications. That is part of the agenda for that meeting. The main objective of the North-South Ministerial Council, which will take place on Monday, will be to discuss the very issues the Deputy has outlined, including the implications for Northern Ireland and the all-island implications of the vote with particular reference to the four priority areas the Taoiseach outlined.

The Good Friday Agreement to which the Tánaiste refers revolves around a concept of consent, which has not been uncontroversial in Irish politics and history. I put it to the Tánaiste that it is not sufficient for her blithely to say she respects the vote of the UK. I have asked her to recognise and respect the vote of the people of the North of Ireland who, by a majority, voted to remain within the EU. I ask the Government what it proposes to do to honour and vindicate that democratic decision. The people of the North do not consent to Brexit. By democratic ballot, they have decided that they wish to remain. The Tánaiste should know that notwithstanding comments by the First Minister, the joint First Minister speaks for the majority when he says that he and his colleagues will defend and honour that democratic decision. I am asking the Tánaiste for more than a box-ticking or paper shuffling exercise. I want to know that concrete proposals will be brought forward at the meeting on Monday and that the Irish State and the Dublin Government will start from the position of the democratic wishes of the people of the North.

Of course, we recognise the result the Deputy outlined. There is no question of that.

Say it then.

Clearly, the concerns of everybody on the island of Ireland are going to be uppermost in the minds of the negotiators at every level, including ministerial and official level. There are a range of issues. We are in a unique position as regards the impact of the result and very serious issues arise for us. The whole question of Border controls, maintaining the common travel area, immigration and ongoing security issues is of the utmost concern. However, we know that nothing is going to change overnight although there are very serious implications in both the medium and long terms as the full implications begin to be understood by all. The Taoiseach will be having detailed initial discussions over the next two days, which will be continued by Ministers dealing with their counterparts. Yesterday, I spoke with the Minister with responsibility for immigration in the UK and with security people who reassured me and pointed out clearly the fact that there were no changes envisaged immediately, for example in relation to any of those Border or security issues. Good co-operation North-South and east-west will continue.