Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this important matter. Brexit is a major concern in my constituency, especially among those living in rural parts of County Kerry who depend on farming. Small business owners are also worried about what will become of them after Brexit.

Significant expectations were created before Christmas with regard to the border with the North. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade suggested the matter had been sorted out and that there would not be a hard border. People are not sure what happened and whether it was Britain or the European Union which had sold the story to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste because they surely did not make it up for us.

Brexit is of critical importance and we need to find out how it will materialise. We certainly do not want to return to the days of a hard border. Many people are sad that the Border was not mentioned in the recent talks between the British Prime Minister, Mrs. Theresa May, and the President of the European Council, Mr. Donald Tusk. The way in which the Border issue will be addressed has been left to very late in the day. That is the big question and I ask the Minister of State, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste to do everything possible to ensure we will not end up with a hard border. It is difficult to see how it can be avoided. However, given that we were told before Christmas that we would not have a hard border, I ask the Government to ensure we have will a soft border. As I stated, it is of critical importance to small farmers and small businesses who deal with people in the North that Brexit not affect or hurt them.

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