Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is good that the Commissioner is here. I would like him to be clear that most of us would not agree with having a bilateral arrangement or negotiations with Britain. I rejected that on behalf of my party when it was floated following the report from the House of Lords.

I, on behalf of my party, rejected this when it was floated after the publication of the House of Lords report. It would not be in our interests but that is where it is right now. It stands as long as our interests are considered and included in the EU negotiations with the United Kingdom. However, to be clear, if we were to feel that our views and concerns were not being dealt with in this regard, we of course would reserve the right. I agree with the position of Mr. Timmermans that everyone will enter these negotiations and look for advantages and so they should. Britain will try to look after the best interests of its people. We want to look after the best interests of our people, North and South - I will return to that - and, most importantly, the future of the European Union itself.

I am somewhat more confident than some members. Sometimes it is good to be in the middle of the Atlantic while being part of Europe. Our relationship with Britain as a country is that we are its fifth biggest market. We must be confident that we, the European Union and Ireland, will continue to trade with Britain. The question is how to get to that stage. This is why I wish to ask Mr. Timmermans about a matter Mr. Hayes, MEP, raised earlier. With Britain exiting the customs union, Mr. Michel Barnier gave his view that there would be some transitional arrangements. I agree with him. However, Commissioner Moscovici then said nothing would happen until after two years. This would be dangerous for all. We should be realistic about how this will be done, particularly in respect of customs and trade. I understand there are people on both sides of the fence who do not particularly like one other. Those on one side do not like the fact that Britain is leaving and sometimes feel we need a big stick to punish those on the other. This is not in anyone's interests. It is neither in Ireland's interests nor the European Union's interests. I ask Mr. Timmermans to clarify this from a Commission perspective. Which position is it - Commissioner Moscovici's or Mr. Barnier's - or is there a third person in the middle who makes some sense of this?

I have put my next point to our Government by way of parliamentary question. What is the Commission's view on an EU reform fund? There are unique aspects to Ireland's position and other countries also trade extensively with Britain and vice versa. The relaxation of state aid rules for certain sectors should therefore be considered. Most crises just fall on one's lap. They just happen, and every country, every government and its people, must deal with them. This is a crisis we know is coming down the track. We can plan for it and should be able to do so already, considering in particular the sectors that require our support, both in Ireland and the European Union. We know there will be difficulties when the Article 50 letter is sent and over the next few years. I do not sense that such preparation is under way and I do not believe it is okay just to say we must wait and see what the British are looking for. That is true in one respect, but I know, as I am sure does Mr. Timmermans, that Britain is supporting its indigenous industries. We have also seen this with export industries from outside the European Union. We do not know what support Britain has been giving to some of the car manufacturers but one had better believe it is probably better than the EU supports given to Irish companies, for argument's sake, or Dutch companies for that matter. Consequently, we should consider this again. Will Mr. Timmermans give a commitment that consideration will be given to a relaxation of the state aid rules and the creation of an EU reform fund to which all countries or sectors, not just Ireland, could apply?

I was very heartened by Mr. Timmermans' comments about the head versus the heart. He is 100% correct that one cannot fight anti-EU sentiment with spreadsheets and pie charts. We must try to be positive and show what has been positive about the European Union. For too long all its negative elements have been emphasised. It is right people are critical - do not get me wrong. However, the fact that the Commission's judgment on the Apple case came a few weeks after Brexit happened should be considered from a political perspective. I thought the Commission was the best and brightest of the European Union but even the timing of the judgment should be considered. I still believe the Commission overstepped the mark in that case. We must be more conscious of the EU itself and how our people feel within it. I for one want to see the European project move forward. I would be particularly interested to hear Mr. Timmermans' views on the few items I have raised with him.

My very final point concerns the common travel area, which was reaffirmed by the Amsterdam treaty. We believe the common travel area is not in any way up for negotiation.

We will have the largest number of European Union citizens living outside the EU, that is, Irish citizens in the North of Ireland, to whom we in Ireland have a duty of care under the Good Friday Agreement and previous international treaties. This is our unique case and the unique aspect to our position. Hundreds of thousands of people - indeed, more than 1 million people - living outside the EU will be more than entitled to Irish citizenship and, by extension, EU citizenship.

The next few years will not be easy. I ask that we consider the few matters I have raised. I welcome Mr. Timmermans' engagement. It is very useful.