Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Timmermans very much. I was very heartened with the comments attributed to him in one of yesterday's national newspapers in regard to the importance he attached to the Good Friday Agreement. I am delighted that he put it on the record of the committees of the Houses of Parliament that he wants the Good Friday Agreement upheld and protected. His comments are very heartening. He said as well that the Commission has a political and moral duty to maintain the Good Friday Agreement. That is so correct. What we said in discussions with other groups that appeared before the committee and to other committees of the Houses is that the outcome of the Brexit negotiations must not result in the diminution in any way of the workings, aspirations or the potential of the Good Friday Agreement.

The role of the European Union has been critical in getting us to this stage. The financial support for the various programmes such as INTERREG and PEACE has been critical. Substantial funds have been drawn down by both the Irish and British Governments and by statutory agencies and voluntary groups throughout the island in support of the peace process. Much of the funding went to the least advantaged areas in Northern Ireland and the Border area and it was very important in terms of improving the lot of disadvantaged communities. We want to see that continue.

As a representative of a Border area, I have seen this island transformed since 1998. We do not want to go one step backwards. The outcome of Brexit is critical for the entire island. I hope the First Vice President can reinforce to his colleagues on the Commission the importance of ensuring no aspect of the Good Friday Agreement is diminished and that we want the island to continue to grow on a North-South and east-west basis, and that we will build on what has been achieved to date.

We cannot countenance going backwards. Those of us who grew up in Border areas grew up with checkpoints on both sides of the Border and the resulting restriction on the movement of people, goods and services. That is not something we can go back to. I am sure all of my colleagues present are very heartened by the comprehensive remarks Mr. Timmermans made and his detailed knowledge of the issues affecting us.

I am very pleased that Mr. Timmermans has got a sense of the feelings of the members of these committees on the European Union, the opportunity and need for governance reform among other issues, and that Europe must return to the ideals of the communautaire approach that drove it heretofore. I hope we will have the opportunity to meet the First Vice President again during the process of negotiations. I sincerely thank Mr. Timmermans for the very comprehensive manner in which he dealt with all the questions posed to him by members of both committees.