Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to make a few points. The all-Ireland energy market Mr. Sheridan mentioned is one of those really positively integrated markets. If Brexit proceeds as the worst case scenario, the home market, to a certain extent, will reduce by approximately 30% to small businesses, and it is on the island of Ireland that small businesses first find their feet before even thinking of exporting or delivering to other markets.

The €12 billion Senator O'Donnell mentioned is a very, let us say, disagreed with figure in that it includes money that goes from the North into the British defence budget. For example, it includes money spent by the Northern population on Trident, etc. In addition, corporations that function in the North pay their taxes not in Belfast, but in London. For example, none of the corporation tax generated in the North of Ireland is included in that €12 billion, so that figure would be far lower if issues such as Trident, British defence and corporation taxes were taken out.

I think the key issue for people is that if there is regulation divergence North and South, it kills the ability to develop an all-Ireland market. I was lucky enough to be the rapporteur for the enterprise committee's report on the all-Ireland economy last year. I met with 100 different organisations. ISME and the CBI in the North were involved, as were different community organisations. All those organisations said that if one plans, funds and delivers together, one reaps economies of scale and improves the level of quality for people, and this is what is being threatened. My fear in this regard is that it is happening on our island but we seem to have no influence over it whatsoever. That is the most frustrating element of it. We probably disagree with the politics of it, but I believe that one of the necessities is for this Government and this State to fight for that special category status. They were mandated to do so by this Oireachtas. There is also an onus on us to negotiate with the British at some level, as the Spanish seem to be doing regarding Gibraltar, to set out our stall at least before the full negotiations get into swing in the European Union. Do the witnesses have any comments to make on those points? I apologise - was Deputy Smyth looking to come in?