Mr. Máirtín Ó Muilleoir:

The Deputy can take it as read that we are saying and will continue to say that the EU needs reform. The Deputy is correct that an effect of globalisation has been a sense of alienation among ordinary people, and working class communities in particular. I disagree, however, that it is not a bad thing. It certainly is a bad thing when it is exploited by right wing anti-democratic elements. We saw in Britain how the worst, most egregious racists fuelled the fires of anti-immigration sentiment and encouraged people to vote for Brexit as a stance against immigration. We see the same in other countries, where the legitimate fears of people who have been abandoned because of the ruthless systems of globalisation are being exploited. It happened in the North, where people voted to stop Polish people from making their homes in Belfast and Derry. There was an increase in racist attacks in Britain in the wake of the Brexit vote.

We absolutely understand why people in areas of Wales, England and the North which were hard hit by unemployment voted to leave. However, I do not give an iota of credence to those who espouse the little England mentality. The most extreme British unionists, those who believe in the splendid isolation of England and a return to the days of empire, are celebrating because they want to cut off all links with this island and return to a mythical British supremacy. We must be careful that in standing for a fair deal for working people and against globalisation and the erosion of workers' rights, we do not fall into the trap of saying to the Brexiteers we are on their side. I am working in my Department to protect pay levels and to seek to introduce a living wage. I stood on the Border with colleagues from Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Fianna Fáil representatives, with small farmers and business people from both sides of the Border and with culture and community groups. The only place to stand on this particular argument, for anyone who believes in a democratic society on this island, the reform of Europe, a fair deal for all our people and social justice, is against Brexit. I am speaking here as a Minister rather than a member of a political party. This is the pivotal political battle of our time and the only place to stand is on the Border with those who have already lost out due to partition and all those who believe in a shared island with a peaceful and prosperous future and a fair deal for everyone. That is what we must work to achieve. I do not want to stand with those who are writing anti-immigrant slogans on walls in my city or attacking the homes of Nigerians. The only place to stand is with those who move to the side of the light, which is against the disastrous and calamitous event that is Brexit.