Professor Gary Murphy:

In response to Deputy Crowe's question, 88% of self-defined Irish nationalists voted to remain, and 34% of self-defined unionists did so. Some 70% of those who did not define one way or the other voted to remain. Clearly, the urge to remain is something that needs to be taken into account in Northern Ireland. I began my remarks by criticising the EU for the way it had developed and saying it bears some significant responsibility for the result in Britain. That is not to excuse some of the mistakes that were made by the British Tory party and by the British political elite itself. The EU has a significant opportunity to change. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan raised some of the issues it might consider, such as its federalisation and also where it sees itself on the issue of the arms industry.

On the special arrangement, which Deputies Crowe and Barrett raised, the grave danger for the EU is that this begins a long breakup of the Union as nationalist movements become increasingly powerful. The EU would be very reluctant to offer special agreements for Ireland during the Brexit negotiations because it would run the risk of stoking nationalist movements in other states, including in eastern Europe where states might consider exiting the Union if they could get a good deal. The Union has to be very cautious about this, and this is why I said at the beginning of my remarks that this is in many ways the greatest crisis the Union has faced since its foundation. We should not take the idea of a special arrangement off the table, but the difficulties would be considerable.

My colleague, Professor Barrett, can answer the agricultural questions as he is far more qualified than I am.