Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Fearon stated at the outset that he wishes to ensure the views of his group are taken into account. I assure him that I am listening to what he and his colleagues are saying. The same issues are raised with me every day by people in my constituency and elsewhere. Several members of this committee, including myself, attended the protest organised by Border Communities Against Brexit in early October. Will the delegates comment on the proposal put forward recently through the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs that the key decision makers, who ultimately will decide the shape of Brexit, should be invited to the region to see at first hand the disastrous impact any type of Brexit, hard or soft, will have on the all-Ireland economy? The Taoiseach gave a clear indication earlier this year that he would have the next meeting of the all-island civic dialogue forum in Newry, which would give people an opportunity to have further input. We await the announcement in this regard with bated breath. Will the witnesses comment on that proposal? It is only when one gets down and dirty with this business that one can comprehend the impact on the all-island economy if things do not stay the same.

I have often observed at these meetings that for many years we, North and South, have turned our backs to each other. It is interesting that Mr. Boyle is from almost a neighbouring parish to mine but we do not know each other. I am old enough to remember the Border the delegates have described. I have said on numerous occasions in this committee and in the Dáil that many people seem to have forgotten that a hard Border existed for many years after our membership of the EU. The cross-Border concession roads are still there and the witnesses may remember the blue and white signposts that indicated one was approaching an unapproved crossing. There are 38 such crossings in Louth and nobody would wish to return to the situation we had before. I am particularly taken by the references in the witnesses' submission to Frontex, the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders, and the point that there should be strong oversight of how any Border crossings are implemented. Apparently, all the modern technology will make things run smoothly in a post-Brexit situation. I am not confident that will be the case.

The big decisions on all of this will be made by the EU. Do the witnesses agree that Britain, if it is intent on leaving the Union, should commit to providing the same level of funding for all the existing programmes and pro rataincreases based on the cost of living? That will be necessary to ensure the programmes can continue in the long term and the economy can continue to operate on an all-Ireland basis.