Yesterday, a draft Brexit withdrawal agreement was agreed between the British and EU negotiators. I welcome that following all of the machinations of the past year and a half and all of the toing and froing and false starts, a suitable deal might be on the table. I use the word "might" because we have not yet had sight of what is on offer. We are hopeful that a deal which meets what Sinn Féin has consistently called for may be on the table. We await the details.

From the beginning of this process, Sinn Féin has consistently called for a special deal for the North reflective of its unique status and which ensures there will be no hard border on our island, that citizens' rights are protected and that the Good Friday Agreement is upheld. We have made this case at home and abroad, including through Martina Anderson in the European Parliament and through others who have travelled to America and other countries. We have urged the Government to promote an all-island view at all times. We have not sought to play politics on this issue.

Settle down.

I ask Senators to have some manners. The nonsense I heard last night from some of the-----

This is serious business.

I know it is serious. If Sinn Féin did something about it, it would be helpful.

Senator Ó Ríordáin is out of order.

Senator Conway-Walsh is stating the truth.

Sinn Féin has been consistent in calling for special status for the North within the EU. We have at all times supported the Government in what it has been trying to do throughout this process. Those who say that if Sinn Féin took its seven seats in Westminster everything would be resolved are idiots. Those who think the British Tories and others would not come together to stop Sinn Féin and that seven votes within the House of Commons make a difference in all of this are naive. This naivety is beyond belief.

For Sinn Féin the bottom line is the backstop and ensuring there is never a hard border on this island and that the interests of citizens are protected and upheld in the Good Friday Agreement. This protection remains vital. The British must be held to the commitment made last December. The DUP is already out of the traps supposing what is potentially on the table, which is difficult to understand given that none of us yet knows the detail of what has been agreed.

In opposing any positive solutions, the DUP has aligned itself with the most right-wing elements of the Tory Party, UKIP and extreme Brexiteers by moving from an initial position of seeking to avert or avoid a hard border to actively seeking one. The onus is on political leaders to defend our country's political and economic interests. This should be the position of everybody on all parts of this island and everyone within this Chamber.

There is now an onus on the British Government to step up to this mark. When will the parties in this House be fully briefed on what is on the table?