Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Ahern. It is good to hear his comprehensive perspective as someone who lives close to the Border and has represented the people in the Border region and as someone with vast ministerial experience. I told the previous speaker, Mr. John Bruton, about meeting an Ulster farmer who talked to me about the crown. He said he was more loyal to the crown, as in the monetary denomination rather than the one worn by her majesty. The analogy he was making was a simple one. His point was that economics can divide or unite us. Money can divide or unite us. That is becoming a big focus now on the island of Ireland and that is rightly so.

While there are inevitabilities about Brexit, it is great to see Mr. Ahern's emphasis, which was very different to that of the previous speaker. Mr. Ahern seems to realise to a greater extent the realities of it. While Mr. Bruton talked about the possibility of revocation and Britain changing its mind, that is a long way away. While the Government has to be prepared for what is going on, I am more interested in the emphasis Mr. Ahern placed on Northern Ireland and, I presume, the protection of the peace process and all of that. That is a very important part of Brexit for the island of Ireland as are the difficulties around all of that. The constitutional position of Northern Ireland will change if Britain brings the United Kingdom out of the EU. How will that impact on the Anglo-Irish Agreement? From his experience, what does Mr. Ahern see? I see that as a major constitutional change to the position of Northern Ireland. What is the potential impact for the people? Mr. Ahern referred to the importance of the North-South dimension but now we have the east-west dimension in all of this. That is a good thing as long as there is dialogue. Mr. Bruton touched earlier on a really good point. He said there was a united Europe but in the case of the United Kingdom, one has the position in relation to Scotland. We know what the position in Scotland and Northern Ireland is. They both voted to remain within the EU. I would be interested in Mr. Ahern's comments on that. Of the four countries in the UK, two are for and two are against.

Referring to Northern Ireland, Mr. Ahern said he believed the continuation of the special EU funds should apply, especially during any transitional period. While that is important, what are the practicalities and the reality of that happening? Of course, I agree on all of that and on the relaxing of state-aid rules in the Border counties. In his experience, what does Mr. Ahern think is the reality? As someone with huge ministerial experience, what would be his red line in negotiations? As he is not part of the negotiations, that may be an unfair question to ask him. What are the red line issues, however, from the point of view of the EU negotiating with the UK or, for that matter, the Irish Government negotiating on our special interests?