Dr. Alasdair McDonnell:

Deputy Breathnach raised a point as to what Britain wants or defining what Britain wants. For the benefit of colleagues, my interpretation of what Britain wants, which I have tried very hard to figure out, is that it wants to maximise the benefits of an association with the European Union but not to have any financial or legal responsibility or accountability. Britain wants to escape its financial and legal responsibility but wants to try to retain the benefits. It is in that context that we have to get our heads around this, both in this committee and everywhere else, in Northern Ireland, in the Republic or wherever. We need to pick up on what Dr. Morrow is telling us because there are 100 little land mines sitting there waiting to explode and all that is going to happen is that we will wait until somebody trips over one and then we will not be prepared for it.

I do not want to overdo it and without trying to make an emotional point, I reiterate that much of the view of the British Government on Brexit is that of the south east of England. It is not even London, it is the south east minus London.

London is pro-Europe and those who live and work in Europe are, and remain, pro-Europe. However, there is an attitude, and it is unfortunate, that the sane members of the Conservative Party have allowed themselves to be dragooned onto a Brexit agenda for the sake of peace.

That is the current position. Britain wants as much as it can get out of Europe for as little responsibility as possible. That is the message coming through every discussion and debate.