Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms O'Connell for her presentation. I want to concentrate on the issue raised towards the end of her presentation, namely, our relationship with the UK within the EU. From the time of our initial involvement, we had a very strong negotiating partner in the UK and we were seen very much as allies within the whole set-up. With the UK gone from the EU post Brexit, we will be unique in that we will be the only English-speaking member state and the only island nation off the Continent. How does Ms O'Connell perceive our role in the future in that scenario? A colleague of mine was in Europe recently to set out the Irish stall in terms of what we need from Brexit, what would be acceptable to us and what would be seen as a good or soft Brexit from our perspective. He was listing our requirements but was asked if he was trying to negotiate for a soft Brexit on behalf of the UK. While some concessions for Ireland have been mentioned in various speeches and papers, which is welcome, there are elements within the European movement who believe that giving Ireland what we need is tantamount to conceding to the UK. How do we negotiate the best deal from Ireland's perspective without stepping on the toes of our colleagues in Europe in the future? How do we ensure that post Brexit, there is no sourness among our 26 EU colleagues, some of whom might believe that Britain got a soft deal thanks to Ireland putting the boot in and getting what was best for it? How do we make sure that we are not in a marriage that is starting off on a bad footing? How can we overcome such problems or iron them out after Brexit?