Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If the parties in the North do not get it together, they will certainly not count in London. Britain will be a full member of the European Union for the next three years. A view that a transition period will be required appears to be gathering strength. Irrespective of the outcome of the negotiations, the UK will be a full member of the European Union and will have a full complement of Members of the European Parliament. Perhaps the transition period that many now believe will be necessary will last for another few years. The period of uncertainty will continue for a long time, which is a serious difficulty.