Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Tá fáilte roimh na finnéithe go dtí Dáil saorstáit na hÉireann. I would like to tease out a matter with the Ministers. I understand the concerns about a hard Border and the implications that would have for the economy and for the free movement of people and of labour in particular. Hard borders do not bother the movement of capital which seems to be able to move freely right across the planet. There is never a problem with that. The problem always concerns the movement of people.

In light of the outcome of the Italian referendum, do the Ministers not think there is a wider argument for making a plea to both the British and Irish Governments to raise the question of EU reform? In this respect, the Italian people are like the Greek people and the people of Cyprus and of this country. There was something more hidden in the Brexit vote other than right wing arguments that people want out of Europe, and that was reflected where the Brexit vote was very strong across the abandoned area of the industrial belt of north England. Given that the biggest vote in Italy was among the disaffected young people who are suffering from extreme levels of unemployment as a consequence of EU austerity, do the Ministers not think at this point there is a role for the Ministers here to say to both the Irish and British Governments that we need to press Europe to have a good look at itself and the austerity measures it is imposing on people across Europe because they are creating a backlash? That backlash is not necessarily a bad thing or a racist thing but it is coming as a direct consequence of the austerity measures, the bank bailouts and so on, and it has now spread to Italy and could spread further. It is not only Brexit that will be of concern but the possible exit of many countries if Europe does not start to have a good navel gaze and examine the necessary reforms for the benefit of all people rather than for the benefit of capital.