Professor Gavin Barrett:

Senator Bacik asked how likely it is that the UK will stay in the customs union. Theresa May said she wanted out. It is core to the Brexiteers' self-image that they have freedom to negotiate these mythical trade deals all around the world. That worries me.

As to how we promote that idea, in the past we have tried to exercise persuasion. We did not have too much luck in persuading them not to vote for Brexit. If politicians here have links with moderate candidates in the United Kingdom they should go there, canvass for them and help them out. Apart from that, there is not much we can do. We can argue the case as best we can but there is little else we can do.

On the best way of protecting the interests of Irish citizens abroad, Ireland has had what I would describe as a spectacular success in getting our priorities included in the draft mandate and the Council guidelines. The way Ireland has done that has been very impressive. It is a good illustration of the correct approach to take at European level. It was similarly used, although it is not a very popular thing to say, at the time of the bailout, that is, that some people promote a very confrontational approach vis-à-visthe European Union. It is a case of take them on, defy them, break all the rules and so on. In fact, the very opposite approach was used. In other words, if one is seen as a team player one will achieve more and get more. It certainly has worked at this stage of the negotiations and I suspect it will continue to do so if we do that in regard to the agreement that will follow governing the long-term relationship between the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan raised a number of issues one of which was the question of identity. That is key. There were many headlines that I was a little uncomfortable with concerning Northern Ireland and the unwinding agreement, if I can call it that, the Article 50 agreement we will reach. We cannot forget that there are many identity issues bound in that. The mere fact that it is economically more advantageous, for instance, to unite with Ireland does not mean that people will actually want to unite with the Republic. It was very noticeable, for instance, that Ulster farmers voted very much against their own financial interests in the Brexit referendum. They are crucially dependent on Common Agriculture Policy payments and from 2020 onwards, they have absolutely no guarantee in regard to those but yet, the issue of identity was enough to get them to vote in that regard. I agree that we cannot forget the issue of identity politics.

The Deputy raised a lot of issues but one that struck me was shortfalls in terms of overseas development aid. That is very true. It is an aspect of something I have already mentioned, in that the British financial contribution will be missed. It is a big country. They contributed a good deal in terms of finance to the European Union and either we are looking at cutbacks in regard to that money or other member states replacing the money in question.

In terms of the United Kingdom's own contribution in respect of overseas development aid, I notice that the Conservative Government has been very favourable in respect of keeping that up.

Perhaps, even outside of the European Union, overseas development aid will continue but I suppose there will be a certain decline. One can do much more collectively than individually. I hope Britain will find some way to opt in when it comes to continuing European efforts.