Yesterday the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, set out her stall in advance of the opening of Article 50 negotiations in a matter of weeks. Some have described her utterances as a plan. It is not a plan; it is a wish list. It is a wish list that will no doubt please the likes of Nigel Farage and those on the Tory right, but one thing that is clear is that it is bad news for Ireland.

Prime Minister May repeated her intention to bring an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. Alongside her vow to end Britain's commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights, this will have profound implications for the Good Friday Agreement because, as the Taoiseach knows, both are fundamental to the human rights provisions contained in the Agreement. The Taoiseach needs to make clear to Prime Minister May that this cannot happen.

The Prime Minister's intention to leave the Single Market and her indecisiveness about the customs union will have a detrimental impact on the economy, both in the North and across Ireland. Exiting either would create a hard Border on the island. That is a fact.

The Prime Minister's remarks on the future of the common travel area contained no new detail other than vague references. From an Irish perspective, we are still left wondering about the following question: Brexit means Brexit means what? The one thing we know is that Prime Minister May's plan shows that she persists in ignoring the views of the people of Ireland. It is worth reminding ourselves that citizens in the North voted to remain in the European Union. That is their democratic wish and that voice needs to be heard. Far from voting with their eyes open to leave the EU, the vote and mandate from citizens in the North was clear. It was "No" to a Tory, little Englander approach and "No" to a hard Border. Any pretence from the British Government about consultation is just that. It has no interest in consulting any of the devolved institutions. The Prime Minister used her speech to announce a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee for Thursday - so much for consultation. She is not interested in listening to the views of the devolved administrations in the North or anywhere else; that much is clear.

The Taoiseach is in a different position, however. He will sit at the negotiating table as one of the remaining 27 member states. He will have a view and a say. He has a key role to play and he must be assertive because the issues and stakes are massive. It will fall to him, as Taoiseach, to uphold the democratic wishes of the people of this island who are being ignored by the British administration. The only workable solution for the North is to be granted special designated status within the European Union and the Taoiseach needs to work to that goal. More than that, we need to hear now from him what is his holistic, considered approach to defending the interests of the island. The Prime Minister, Theresa May, has set out her approach. We now need to hear the Taoiseach's view, vision, plan and strategy. When will we hear those?

I referred on many occasions to what we want for our country and citizens, namely, a continuation of a strong economy; the preservation of the common travel area; no return to a hard Border or borders of the past; to maintain our trading links; and to negotiate, as part of the European Union team, our position in the European Union of the future. What happened yesterday is that, following the referendum in Britain on 23 June 2016, calls were made for clarity and the Prime Minister has set out what she believes is the best option for Britain. One would not expect her to do anything else. After all, the British Government has decided to follow through on the vote in the referendum and leave the European Union.

The other side of the equation is that, from a European perspective, 27 countries, one of which is Ireland, will negotiate from the other side of the table. These negotiations have not even started yet. What we have at the moment is a declaration of what the British Government sees as being in Britain's interest. We have not had the benefit of a discussion by the 27 other member states, from a European perspective, on where these countries, including Ireland, see the future of Europe.

Deputy McDonald made the point that the Prime Minister had no interest in consulting. While I do not speak for the Prime Minister, I heard her say she wanted all the devolved administrations, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, represented on the negotiating team from a British perspective. The Deputy also made the point that this is bad news for Ireland.

The negotiations have not yet commenced but Sinn Féin wants to take the line of blaming everybody without accepting any responsibility. I want the Deputy to understand that we will argue vociferously in respect of the issues I have already pointed out we have been preparing for and mentioned yesterday by the Prime Minister in her speech. Also, when Britain has left the European Union this country will remain a member of it. Ireland is an English-speaking nation, with a strong record of dealing with Europe, a strong proposition for continued investment and an attractive location for job creation and careers. Yes, there will be challenges, not the least of which will be, as referred to by Deputy McDonald, the British courts and the European Court of Justice and where decisions might be made in cases where difficulties arise from a particular circumstance or another. I do not accept the Deputy's proposition. I will argue very strongly in favour of our proposition for the future of our country and Northern Ireland.

I would not expect any British Prime Minister to consider or argue for anything other than that which he or she considered to be in the British interest. Let there be no mistake about it the British interest does not include what is good for the North of Ireland or for this island as a whole. It is important that is said out loud. It seems to me that the Taoiseach has sat on his hands until now, awaiting breathlessly the utterance of Prime Minister, Theresa May, in terms of what the British system proposes to do. He now argues that he is awaiting what other EU member states might have to say in that regard. All of that is fair enough. However, it is now clear that the Taoiseach has no plan. That is very troubling. I am well aware that Article 50 has not as yet been triggered and that there will be a complicated, high stakes process of negotiation. Sinn Féin will take on any responsibility that it rightly shoulders in that regard.

It is clear that the Taoiseach, at this eleventh hour, has no discernible plan, vision or direction. All he has done today in this Dáil Chamber is repeat a list of issues. A list of issues is not a plan. It will not protect Irish jobs, Irish agriculture, our economy, our political institutions or the Good Friday Agreement. A list of issues is no good and no comfort to the citizens of the North who voted to remain. In regard to the Taoiseach's statement that he will protect this country, this country stretches beyond Dundalk into the exotic lands of Newry and as far as the Glens of Antrim.

The Deputy is over time.

That is the jurisdiction for which this Government has responsibility. We need a plan. Perhaps the Taoiseach will respond to the question of when we can expect a plan in a manner that can be understood across Ireland.

The 32 counties.

The type of politics contained in the Deputy's commentary is typical of where Sinn Féin is now, namely, without responsibility in this matter, blaming everybody and with its own wish list. I have already pointed out to Deputy McDonald that what we want for this country is a continuation of a strong economy, our own citizens and no return to a hard Border.

Precisely.

We want the common travel area preserved and we will work for that. All of the details will not be known for some time because the negotiations have not yet commenced. As stated by the Deputy, I stand in this Chamber today as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, which requires me to ensure that the institutions of Northern Ireland work in the interests of the people of Northern Ireland. We will defend that with everything we have.

The Taoiseach has sat on his hands.

I remind Deputy McDonald that the first ever all-island forum was held last November, to which Sinn Féin contributed. The next forum is scheduled to take place on 17 February. In the meantime, 12 sectoral locations from Northern Ireland will give us their views on Brexit.

Where is the Taoiseach's plan?

I will take those views to Europe in the context of the discussions to take place. I hope to see Deputy McDonald there.

The Taoiseach does not have a plan.