Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join with Senator Ó Donnghaile in hoping we will receive an update on this issue. There was consensus in the House yesterday regarding concern at what was happening in Cahersiveen. It is important, therefore, that we receive an update on that situation.

I support the re-establishment of the select committee on Brexit. If we had been asked six months ago what issue we would have been debating the most in this House, we would have said Brexit. The reports today highlight how important it is that this country is prepared to deal with the possibility of a no-deal Brexit. I refer to the impact on Border communities, but also on trade, agriculture and transport. I am glad that there are commitments in the programme for Government to ensure that our ports, and particularly Rosslare Europort, are ready for Brexit.

I would also like for us to focus on an aspect of Brexit that is both a challenge and an opportunity and that is education. It is essential that we maintain bilateral education relationships between Ireland and Britain. There are many research collaborations and much good work has been done in this area by the British Irish Chamber of Commerce and we must look at ways to ensure that aspect continues to be facilitated. The Erasmus programme is one of the most successful European programmes ever and it also provides opportunities for Ireland. We must look to the post-pandemic period, when students will be travelling again, because many more students from continental Europe will be looking to come and study on an English-speaking island.

We must also think about the longer term and that means fostering closer relationships between Irish higher education institutions and those in continental Europe, and also in investing in modern European languages. The Department of Education and Skills has a language strategy and we must ensure that children from primary school level right through the education system have access to learning modern European languages. In the context of the Brexit discussion, therefore, the Brexit select committee should not only deal with immediate issues that will arise, but, if there is a no-deal Brexit, it should also explore what educational opportunities that situation may present for Ireland two to three years down the line.