It appears that agreement has been reached on a Brexit divorce bill of between €40 billion and €50 billion. We are told agreement has also largely been reached on citizenship issues. It seems, therefore, that two of the three phase 1 issues are approaching resolution and that only the Irish question remains to be decided. All we hear on that issue are generalities such as "seamless borders", "frictionless borders" and "technology solutions". Such phrases have popped up again and again, but they have little real meaning. During a ridiculous interview that he gave last night Iain Duncan Smith said there was a great deal of showboating. It is clear that significant efforts are being made by some to downplay the Irish issue. It is also clear that the Conservative Party in Britain, unsurprisingly, continues to have a very weak understanding of the Irish Border issue.

All Members understand there is a trade aspect to the Border, but many have expressed concerns that if things are allowed to advance to phase 2 without meaningful and clear commitments on the Irish question, we will lose our leverage. France, Germany and others have clearly prioritised the divorce bill and the rights of citizens. Now that these issues are close to being resolved, Irish concerns might be brushed aside. Technically, there is no veto during these talks as under law decisions will be made by qualified majority vote. We also know that the EU27 have so far indicated that Ireland will be allowed to hold what amounts to a veto on these matters. However, if that is the case, the Taoiseach must make a moral rather than a legal argument in order to hold the EU27 together and he will not be prepared to do so. When faced with implacable opposition, however, he will need to stand firm and not blink.

There is to be a Brexit stakeholder forum meeting tomorrow morning and there are valuable opportunities for perspectives to be shared. At this juncture, there is a need for a collective political effort. For months I have been asking the Taoiseach to brief Opposition leaders in detail in advance of European Council meetings and I reiterate that request today. When approaching a meeting as crucial as this one, Deputies of all parties and none should come together to show the EU27 that we stand united together in the interests of the nation. Will the Taoiseach reassure the House that he is willing to deploy what would, in effect, be a veto if meaningful progress to his satisfaction is not achieved on the Irish issue at the next European Council meeting? Will he agree to meet the leaders of all parties to share his plans on a confidential basis and discuss how each of them might assist by directly lobbying our sister parties and organisations throughout Europe to support what is a vital Irish position?

The Brexit stakeholder group is due to meet tomorrow and all parties are invited and welcome to participate in it. I have set up a system under which a very senior official in my Department is available to brief party leaders on the current state of the negotiations. Some party leaders have availed of it, although I am not sure if each of them has. I have committed to meeting party leaders in that regard and will do so when we are at decision point, but we are not yet at that stage. Things are evolving rapidly and changing on a daily basis. We are in daily contact with the task force headed by Michel Barnier. Much progress is being made on the financial settlement but it has not yet been agreed to. None of the three items on which sufficient agreement is required before we can move to phase 2 has reached the necessary point. Progress is being made but it is insufficient at this stage. We are in regular contact with other Foreign Ministers and Prime Ministers and solidarity remains strong with Ireland on our specific issues, including avoiding a hard border. I am very confident that the European Council will operate by consensus and that there will be no need to use or threaten to use a veto because we have and will continue to have the support of our European colleagues on the issue of the Border.

This is the assembly of the people and Members want reassurance from the person who is representing Ireland at the European Council meetings that we will not move to phase 2 until the interests of Ireland are fully secured. I want the Taoiseach to provide that reassurance. I welcome the Brexit stakeholder forum which is important, but it involves 60 or 70 people from agencies and so on. In advance of this most critical European Council meeting, I ask the Taoiseach to meet the leaders of parties represented in the House to discuss the strategy and see how we can play a part by talking to socialists and democrats within the European institutions in the case of the Labour Party and liberals in the case of Fianna Fáil and so on in order that we will have a collective, joined-up and manifestly united effort on this vital issue for Ireland. I ask the Taoiseach to agree to these two requests.

There will be statements in the House prior to the European Council meeting. They are to be made next week or the week after and there will be------

That is not the way to do it.

That is the system we have in place in the House for party leaders and Members to contribute to the European Council before it takes place.

This is not normal.

I have committed to having a meeting of party leaders when we get to decision point and will honour that commitment but we are not yet at such a point. The situation changes on a daily basis and it is not practical to have a meeting every day or two on the issue. That would be a major distraction from the job we are doing on behalf of Ireland on Brexit and in dealing with other governments. However, I will meet party leaders when we get to the point where a decision has to be made and I have a specific request to make of them regarding their political groupings.