Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I approach this debate from the perspective that we need serious and radical democratic reform within Europe. Only a fool would suggest we did not need to strengthen the accountability and transparency of European institutions. We also need to be honest about the mistakes and failings which have led to a growing number of people across Europe being alienated from the institutions of the European Union. Starting from that basis, I note that Professor Faull said at the start of his contribution that there was a clear understanding within member states of the difficulties facing Ireland in relation to the British exit. Has the Irish dimension been formally discussed at any level? How have the member states actually reacted to the negotiations so far? Are people up for discussing the serious issues I have outlined that the British Government has lumped in with its concerns as well? Is there a view across Europe that the British have gone too far? I met Alex Salmond, the leader of the SNP in Westminster, and we spoke about the free travel between Ireland and Britain. How significant is the fact that it pre-dates both of our European Union membership? Ireland has concerns about that free travel. When will the negotiations themselves finish? There was talk at one stage of December, but I do not think that is going to happen. There are issues around migrants and welfare reform and there has been an awful branding of people as "welfare tourists". Does the British Government have figures to back its argument on this up?