Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like other speakers, I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for his remarks. Like other speakers, I have very serious concerns about the major issues that will affect us all into the future. Like my colleague, I do not propose to go into the details of what must be done. I am appalled that Europe should have arrived at this juncture, given all the aspirations we had over the years. Gradually, slowly and inexorably, people in individual member states began to undermine public confidence in the European concept. It was extraordinary that after the referendum in the UK, a certain Member of the European Parliament claimed it as a great victory, having spent 18 or 20 years of his life working assiduously towards undermining the European project and bringing it down.

The original vision was that smaller countries such as Ireland would play a bigger role in the European project and would have common ground with their colleagues, the larger countries, with a view towards moving in a particular direction. Unfortunately, this has ceased. It does not matter what our future plans are because unless we can visualise what Europe will be like in five or even two years' time, we are missing the target. If we do not determine the structures of Europe and what it will be like in that period, and if it does not emerge, we will continue down the path we have travelled, much to the delight of the hard left and the hard right. They have not ceased to function. They are still there and they have an agenda to disrupt the European concept to the extent that it no longer will be workable. This would be a tragedy. What has happened so far is bad, but it could get worse.

I cannot put into words my concern and amazement at some of the things I have seen and heard in recent times. I have heard a Commissioner comment on this country in what I would regard as a condescending way. I also heard the head of a committee in the European Parliament make a prediction about an appeal in respect of the Apple situation to the effect that there was zero possibility of Ireland or Apple succeeding. My question is whether this person feels he also has control of the courts or whether they have gone by the wayside.

We must be very clear about what is happening around us and that none of these developments are likely to be beneficial to a small country. I fully agree with the remarks passed by my colleagues on all sides that this is a situation the like of which we have never seen before. We have talked about it in terms of the possibility that it might happen. The best thing that could happen is that sometime in the next 18 months or earlier, the UK would reconsider and recover the ground. If the UK leaves, it undoubtedly will be the first step in a direction in which we should not go, for many reasons to which my colleagues have referred. If Europe continues on this tangent, a two-speed Europe will emerge. We have fought against this for many years. A two-speed Europe would be a prelude to no Europe at all.

There was a reference to Germany. Germany has not always been our enemy. Germany has supported Ireland at crucial times when other countries of a similar size to ours did not, and were derogatory in their remarks. The theory regarding migration is that the EU was heartless, did not take account of the needs of refugees and should be condemned. That is not what happened.

Individual member states unilaterally took decisions that forbade any discussion on accommodating refugees to the extent that was required. It would have been easier and more cohesive if the member states had showed what they wanted to do about the migration issue. For example, one of the visions we will live with forever is the razor wire that greets refugees. It was not the European Union that came up with that idea. That idea was brought up by member states on their own. If we allow the continuation of the discussion in that direction, Europe will be no more. It is a fact and it is with great sorrow that I say it, especially as a member of this committee.

There is a need within the European Union, in all its branches and functions, to recognise that this is where we are going and we should not in any way jump for joy at this prospect, either in this or any other country in the European Union. This relates to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and all the others as well. It is about who benefits more when there are barriers to trade. Bigger countries benefit more because they have more power, clout and access on a one-to-one basis with their bigger colleagues. I disagree with the reluctance to enter into free trade areas. That is our loophole. If we close that gap, along with everything that is likely to happen, we will find ourselves isolated as a small country, with little or no influence at all.

I agree with the points raised by my colleagues on the peace process in Northern Ireland. I listened attentively to the British Prime Minister's comments and I am not so hopeful about what is intended. There is an indication of a continuation in a direction that will achieve an objective regardless of the consequences, and that objective is to leave the European Union. That would be a major disaster for the European Union and Ireland, North and South. It would be a disaster for Scotland and the UK. I do not know how well this has been thought out. It appears that those in favour of Brexit did not have any alternative when challenged on the issue, and they still have none. That is where the problem exists.

Much water must flow under the bridge and the opportunity is very limited. I hope against hope at this stage that there will be a realisation that Europe and its future is at stake. If it disintegrates, the cost will be to all the people throughout Europe, including this country. There will be a major cost that we cannot even dare to quantify now. For what it is worth, I sincerely hope all the options can be carefully considered before the plug is eventually pulled and we go on a tangent that will lead to uncharted waters.