Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My colleague has pointed out the special position, the special status and the special case. Everybody is using different phrases to describe the relationship between North and South. Have the witnesses done much research on the issue of trade between East and West Germany prior to the Berlin Wall coming down and the special status that East Germany had in the EEC and the EC, even though it was outside the then Common Market and at times was effectively a 13th member thereof? Given that Northern Ireland is about to leave the European Union, could this special case, special status and special position be used as a precedent by Retail Ireland - and all the other organisations operating in the areas of agriculture and trade - in the context of stating that we need a similar special status to that which applied in East Germany and West Germany prior to the Berlin Wall coming down? We are being told that the European Union would like to help Ireland but we have to tell the other member states what we want.

Ms Higgins has pointed out the domestic factors such as employment costs and the VAT rate. Whether these are addressed in the budget is a matter for another committee. The framing of the final agreement between the UK and the EU must take place between now and September. According to the former Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, who is participating at today's meeting of the Seanad Special Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union gas said that is where the cases must be made. Those in charge of the negotiations between the UK and European Union are asking Ireland to set out what it wants, but it must be within the parameters of the European treaties. Europe is very good at finding exceptions. We already have those exceptions. Have Retail Northern Ireland and Retail Excellence Ireland worked on that? Ms Higgins mentioned the Munich agreement, with which I am not entirely familiar. Will she outline those precedents?

We are glad the witnesses have come before us because we are trying to come up with solutions. Prior to today's meeting, witnesses identified the problems. One of the problems which only affects a small number of retailers is that which relates to roaming charges. This matter was supposed to have been sorted out - after much effort - under an EU agreement. The idea was to prevent people who are on one side of the Border being charged the rate on the other side of the Border just because of the proximity to telephone masts. Where will this matter stand post-Brexit? An agreement in respect of this matter is due to come into place in the summer but it will be in effect for less than two years. What will happen after that? This is another example of a special case that, as we are saying to our guests and those involved in the telecommunications sector and other sectors, must be added to the very long list of things we need from the EU in respect of Northern Ireland. We need to make the case in respect of these various matters and if we do not do so by September, the framing of the entire agreement will be set and it will be extremely difficult to add things in thereafter.