Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief as I have already spoken. The issue of the Border has arisen in regard to Brexit. The Border is approximately 500 km long. The constituency I represent stretches along it for almost 100 km, from Belturbet to Pettigo. I am, therefore, acutely aware of the impact that closing roads, putting up checkpoints and so on would have. It is agreed that is not wanted. The British Prime Minister, Theresa May, has said that nobody wants to return to the Borders of the past. It is understood that the EU wants to protect the Single Market and the integrity of that market. All members of the committee want that also. However, there is a discrepancy because one can have one or the other but it is very difficult to have both. One cannot have a free and open border and at the same time protect the integrity of the market. That issue needs to be understood. Britain's position so far has been that it wants to leave the customs union and so on. If it does so, that will cause serious problems for people on the island of Ireland. There is recognition of that across Europe. That situation would be resolved by the island of Ireland having special status.

I was glad to hear Ms McGuinness mention the fishing issue. The issue of Irish territorial waters is important. Our fishing industry, which is one of the most vocal industries about getting a raw deal from Europe, is extremely concerned that if British territorial waters are taken out of the EU, where will the boats currently fishing there go if not into Irish waters? We need to negotiate what Ireland's position will be after Brexit.

No one at this meeting is opposed to trade deals. They are always good. However, for whom are they good? People are concerned by the secondary and tertiary effects which trade deals have on other industries and which may not be evident on the surface. We must be careful that vulnerable industries in peripheral countries such as Ireland will not be negatively affected by trade deals. No one is saying there should not be trade deals. There should be. However, we must ensure there is protection for industries in Ireland and other places on Europe's periphery where trade deals could have negative effects.