Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have a question. It is difficult to argue this because one is in the realms of Peter Pan and fantasy all rolled into one. What should we be doing that we are not doing? That is the first question. Today and next week, what should we be doing? Has there ever been a precedent for borders in the middle of the sea because that is what they are suggesting? It is a good suggestion, that one push the border out or push it back to the British. Has that ever happened previously? Is there anything going on at present that we do not know about? It is a case of business education, exports and imports. It is enormous. It is lifestyle that we are talking about here, not only export and import. They mentioned something about companies now moving into the South. We are aware of people looking for passports and dual citizenship. Is there anything going on that we do not know about?

Returning to the North, are we suggesting that a united Ireland is the only realistic way forward? In one way, "It is the economy, stupid." Where do we find the €9 billion - which will rise to €12 billion by 2020 - cost of Northern Ireland for this idea that we would become united for the sake of the European cohort and then possibly remain disunited? I do not see how that can happen unless one is talking about a united Ireland. Then that raises the question of the Border poll and where does that sit.

What the witnesses are saying is most sensible but I cannot see it. It is fitting a template on something to suit something else. Then, where does that leave Scotland? Is Scotland not in the same category? It is also on the same land mass as England. Scotland shares the same Brexit border there.