Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I echo the words of welcome. Recently, I was part of a delegation that travelled to Brussels with representatives of Border Communities Against Brexit. They put in a Trojan amount of work engaging with European colleagues at every level from Mr. Barnier down. I share many of their frustrations and concerns. I also share most of the sentiments that were expressed by Senator McDowell on special status. Respectfully, I do not share his confidence about the common travel area and the movement of people.

I agree with the previous speakers on special status.

My party has outlined its view in documents about how that would look. Other scenarios will evolve as things move ahead.

Mr. O'Hara's contribution highlighted clearly the potential threat. What we need to do first is protect the integrity of the Good Friday Agreement and the threat posed to it by Brexit. Mr. O'Hara observed that tourism is a critical, growing sector of the Irish economy, both North and South. He looked at its importance for job creation and the economy across the island, not least along the Border corridor, and the impact that Brexit will have on that sector. Then there is the question of the impact Brexit will have on Tourism Ireland and how it does its work, not only as a cross-Border body but also how it will promote the tourism offering in Ireland as a single entity overseas when one part of the island is in the EU and the other outside. Once again, it highlights how much Brexit permeates across every aspect of our lives and in a negative and detrimental way. That was highlighted very clearly for me.

It would be interesting to hear the witnesses' own views on special status as they have engaged extensively on the issue at home and overseas. They made this point in their own contribution but we need to hear a clear outline from the Government of its view of special status for the North and indeed for the South, will be. As the Government has been mandated by the Dáil to argue for special status, one would hope that is its responsibility and intention. Have the witnesses had engagement with the Irish Government in this regard? What feedback have they given regarding their view on special status? What have they argued for, with whom have they been arguing and what is its likelihood in the future?