Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Vice Chairperson and our guest expert speakers. It has been a long but most invigorating session and much ground has been covered. I will conclude by asking two Brexit-related questions because our guests' viewpoints are truly valued. With the true expertise they have comes, it goes without saying, inherent objectivity, impartiality and independence.

I am concerned about the protocol. At the end of the day, if Northern Ireland has the best of both worlds, one of those worlds is clearly the Single Market, which comes with benefits such as access to that market but also obligations. Considering that indisputable fact, I would like our guests' opinion on the following political thorny issue. Must they not be subject to some sort of European court jurisdiction and have some accountability? That might well be politically unpalatable to the unionist community. I do not say it with glee. I merely say it from a realistic point of view. Would our guests agree? If they could look into their crystal ball, is that unfudgeable,as it were? It is difficult to park that one completely.

The next one is a little more long term. I have sympathies with Scotland. We have much in common.

The majority of both the Northern Ireland and the Scottish jurisdiction voted to stay in Europe. However, Northern Ireland has two extra dimensions, which I am sure Mr. Montgomery appreciates. It will get the best of both worlds and has a unique situation with the Good Friday Agreement, where people in Northern Ireland are entitled to citizenship, in that context.

I know corridors of power have opened up in Strasbourg and Brussels. What is Mr. Montgomery's opinion on the possibility of Northern Ireland having a formal voice in EU business? Ought the Republic of Ireland, as its name is designated in statute, be front and centre in facilitating a voice to come into the Twenty-six Counties and lobby for that, or is the way forward via Governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom to insist on a voice around the table for the residents of Northern Ireland? Mr. Montgomery might update us on that access. I believe it is improving all the time. Northern Ireland has indirect and informal access. That is all very good, but I wish to see a more overt, front-of-shop, legitimate and valid voice for the people of Northern Ireland in the EU. After all, the majority of them wanted to embrace and be part of it.