Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ireland's relationship with the UK has evolved and become much stronger through our shared membership of the European Union and the equal status we have at various councils and at a political level. The European Union has had a general role in the peace process in a broad range of areas, including by providing financial and other supports. The relationship between Ireland and the UK will continue to be strong. We have issues that have been made far more straightforward by virtue of the fact that we are jointly within the European Union. It is particularly in the interests of the Irish community in the UK and British citizens living here that we both remain in the EU, for a variety of what can sometimes be technical, bureaucratic and administrative reasons. In remaining in the EU, we can engage repeatedly on so many different matters. One can consider how American politics works, with the rotation of Democrats and Republicans on different issues. Europe functions by consensus, and the process can be very slow and difficult. Nevertheless, when decisions are agreed, they tend to be very robust, as countries may have had to give or agree a little. Within that process, the United Kingdom has a very valuable and important role to play. I very much look forward to the evolution of the process. I believe the UK will remain where it belongs - at the heart of the European Union.