Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guest. I understand the matter raised by Senator Paul Daly but I am hopeful that Professor McCrudden will say that the difficulties he outlined can be overcome. It is good that Professor McCrudden proposed a model and a solution, which is welcome. How hopeful is he that he can get the model through? Has it gained much traction? While today is an effort in that area, has he done much else to get that into the space and onto the table as an option? At the initial meetings on Brexit in my local authority area at home, the local Oireachtas representatives suggesting that the Norwegian model of relationship with the EU was probably the great hope for the entire UK. How optimistic is Professor McCrudden that we can get what he proposes accepted? How optimistic is he that we can overcome the difficulties raised by Senator Paul Daly? I hope he says that we can. Certainly, as a public representative living in the Border area, I am acutely aware that we have to get an all-island solution to the greatest possible degree.

I share Senator McDowell's optimism around the free movement of persons. That battle is won, albeit we cannot take the victory for granted. Assuming it is won, we need a similar situation in respect of the free movement of goods. The alternative is a nightmare which has been well chronicled in the past number of weeks. I will not go back over that again.