Brendan Howlin criticises Enda Kenny’s all-island Brexit plan

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been accused of suffering a “humiliating” defeat over his plans for a cross-border strategy to address the Brexit fallout, after he failed to agree the move with Northern Ireland’s first minister before announcing it.

Labour leader Brendan Howlin criticised Mr Kenny for “failing to prepare the ground” on the measure after it was shot down by DUP leader Arlene Foster during a cross-border summit on Monday.

During a Dáil leaders’ questions debate dominated by Brexit, Mr Kenny came under repeated pressure from Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin leaders Micheál Martin and Gerry Adams over the inability to agree a plan with Ms Foster.