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Nicola Sturgeon to address Irish Parliament Nicola Sturgeon address Irish Parliament
(about 2 hours later)
Nicola Sturgeon will later become the first serving head of a foreign government to address the upper house of the Irish Parliament. Nicola Sturgeon is addressing the upper house of the Irish Parliament as she seeks to strengthen links between Scotland and Ireland.
The first minister is on a two-day visit to Ireland and hopes to strengthen links between Scotland and Ireland in the wake of the Brexit vote. Ms Sturgeon is the first serving head of a foreign government to speak to the Senate.
She told Senators the historical links between the two countries had created a "special and unbreakable bond".
And she said relations between Scotland and Ireland were now "stronger, warmer and more harmonious" than ever.
Scotland's first minister is on a two-day visit to Ireland in the wake of the Brexit vote.
On Monday she met President Michael D Higgins and foreign affairs minister Charlie Flanagan.On Monday she met President Michael D Higgins and foreign affairs minister Charlie Flanagan.
It follows a meeting with Irish premier Enda Kenny last week. It follows a meeting with Irish prime minister Enda Kenny at the UK-Irish Council last week.
In her address to the Irish Senate, Ms Sturgeon is expected to speak about Scotland's relationship with Ireland past, present and in the future - once the UK has left the European Union. In her address to the Senate, Ms Sturgeon is expected to speak about the past, present and future of Scotland's relationship with Ireland.
Before that, in a speech to business leaders, she will say that Ireland has a "strong ally" in Scotland on "virtually every issue of substance". She told a business breakfast of 120 Irish chief executives earlier on Tuesday that Ireland was a "strong ally" of Scotland on "virtually every issue of substance".
Scotland's first minister is examining possible options for maintaining Scotland's links to the European single market - and has a shared interest with the Irish government in keeping the whole of the UK in the single market. Ms Sturgeon is examining possible options for maintaining Scotland's links to the European single market - and has a shared interest with the Irish government in keeping the whole of the UK in the single market.
She is due to attend a business breakfast with 120 chief executives, before addressing the upper house of the parliament. Speaking at Trinity College Dublin on Monday, where she was awarded an honorary patronage from the university's Philosophical Society, Ms Sturgeon repeated her belief Brexit could lead to Scottish independence.
Speaking at Trinity College Dublin on Monday, where she was awarded an honorary patronage from the university's Philosophical Society, Ms Sturgeon said Brexit could lead to Scottish independence. 'Independent country'
The SNP leader warned the UK government that if it tries to drive Scotland off a "hard Brexit cliff edge" then Scots would have the right to "choose other alternatives".The SNP leader warned the UK government that if it tries to drive Scotland off a "hard Brexit cliff edge" then Scots would have the right to "choose other alternatives".
"I have always believed Scotland will become an independent country and I think it will become an independent country well within my lifetime - and this may be the moment for that," she said."I have always believed Scotland will become an independent country and I think it will become an independent country well within my lifetime - and this may be the moment for that," she said.
She also said a proposal to allow Britons to remain EU citizens after Brexit for a fee should not be ruled out. The suggestion of individual EU membership for the 48% who voted Remain merits discussion, she said.She also said a proposal to allow Britons to remain EU citizens after Brexit for a fee should not be ruled out. The suggestion of individual EU membership for the 48% who voted Remain merits discussion, she said.
"We should be open-minded about solutions that can help, whether it is Scotland or individuals, who want to retain their citizenship, their relationship with the EU," she added."We should be open-minded about solutions that can help, whether it is Scotland or individuals, who want to retain their citizenship, their relationship with the EU," she added.