Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the last point made by Professor Murphy.

A Brexit reversal is a good soundbite that makes headlines but no one realistically believes it will happen. I am surprised that no one has mentioned the Brexit vote here. Clearly, there was a significant opposing vote. No political party opposed Brexit in England and Wales. A group in Scotland clearly campaigned against Brexit and we have seen the outcome. In terms of the North of Ireland, the political parties that opposed leaving the EU included Sinn Féin, the SDLP, the Green Party, the Alliance Party and the official Unionists. There was a majority vote against Brexit. How did Brexit come about? It stemmed from a row within the Conservative Party. How does one separate UKIP from the Conservative Party? Some of us thought that the murder of Jo Cox might have had an impact on the Brexit vote, but clearly it did not.

I would like to ask about the federalisation of the EU, a matter that no one has touched on. The British Government has long acted as a block when it came to attempts to further federalise the EU. EU institutions have ignored all of the data and the polls that show the disconnect. Trust and support for the EU is failing. Do the witnesses think that the EU institutions have learned anything from the polls and what has happened in Britain? People had views on the direction that Europe was taking and felt uncomfortable with what Ireland and many other countries have been forced to go through. I am sure the people of Greece, if given a vote in the morning on the EU, would be fairly critical.

There have been significant developments on the other side of the Atlantic in the US such as the election of Donald Trump as President. Do the witnesses believe that the British Government will now focus on establishing stronger ties with a new America? Will Britain prioritise a relationship with the US over one with the EU? Will greater links with the US be more conducive than what comes from the negotiations?

There is agreement in these Houses that Northern Ireland should have a special status in the EU. Do the witnesses think such a status would be significant? The Good Friday Agreement has been mentioned. How important is the Good Friday Agreement in the negotiations? Mr. Michel Barnier has given us a positive message as has the European Parliament. How important is that? Some people will be afraid that a precedent will be set. The Good Friday Agreement is a unique international agreement that acknowledges that we overcame conflict. Brexit has created uncertainty, fear and greater division, which is the last thing that we want.

Human rights was one of the pillars of the Good Friday Agreement. Sinn Féin views the withdrawal from the European Court of Human Rights by the British Government as a game changer in terms of the idea of consent for the people of Ireland. Brexit will also change the nature of the Agreement if the human rights pillar is removed. Do the witnesses view this aspect as an important part of negotiations?

It is foolish to contemplate the idea that the Brits will reverse Brexit. A customs union and the wishlist compiled by the Brits means there must be a hard border. There is no indication, coming from a successful election, that Theresa May will adopt a softer line. In fact, such a win may galvanise the right wing element in terms of Europe.