Dr. Anthony Soares:

Looking at the UK Government's approach prior to the triggering of Article 50, it is clear from the Prime Minister's speech at Lancaster House that it seems as if membership of the Single Market is totally out of the question. Membership of or any relationship with the customs union was left slightly open, but it seems that that door is closing somewhat. We also have to look at the European Union's approach to it. We are seeing tensions within the EU's approach. They have been categorical in that they do not want sectoral deals or to offer sectoral membership of the Single Market to the UK as a whole. In terms of looking at sectoral deals, we should be more ambitious. Let us take those words - creativity, imagination, flexibility - and instead of looking at particular sectors, let us continue looking at how we resolve the situation for Northern Ireland in particular, for the UK as a whole but also for Ireland. We must remember that Ireland will continue to be an EU member state and will need to have its own specific circumstances accommodated by the other member states as we move forward through the Brexit negotiations. It would be prejudicial if we start minimising our approach by looking at sectors instead of being creative and ambitious and look at the whole situation rather than particular industries. If we take the agrifood sector versus manufacturing, membership of the customs union is absolutely essential for the agrifood sector, whereas for many industries within the manufacturing sector it is more about non-tariff barriers than about Single Market membership. There are different requirements for the economy North and South. We have to start with a more ambitious approach instead of looking at particular sectors. I am not saying that we do not move.