Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am sorry to interrupt but my point is that while all this talk might be going on behind the scenes we as public representatives have not been engaged on the consequences that are going to happen once the bell rings. The bell is going to ring very shortly, it would appear, and we do not want to be found with our trousers down at our ankles. There is at least a year's planning in all of this from a political point of view. I understand that the officials are talking and so forth, but there is no need for any secrecy about this. It is a very serious issue that affects ordinary people in the street, the people we represent, and we need to know. This has huge consequences for us. We are stuck out in the middle of the Atlantic, Britain is between us and our colleagues in the European Union and Britain is withdrawing from the European Union. There are huge consequences to this in terms of all the structures that must be put in place regarding the role of the Naval Service and our Defence Forces. However, there appears to be a silence about it. Discussions might be taking place in certain rooms in different parts of different Departments, but I am talking about public representatives and if people ask us what we will do about it. We should be discussing this in the Dáil. It is one of the most serious issues this country has faced for donkey's years. Nobody seems to understand the seriousness of Britain withdrawing from the European Union as far as the Republic of Ireland and part of the island, Northern Ireland, are concerned. Everybody is shying away from it. Mr. Davis turned up in the North and the public representatives were not even told he was wandering around there.

This issue has huge consequences for our security people. Can the Minister of State understand? There are guys lying in the ditches who have not gone away. If they feel that their rights are being infringed one can foresee a return, God forbid, to the days we want to forget. Perhaps there might be planning behind the scenes but I am referring to the Oireachtas and the committees I have encountered. All I am saying is that there should be some discussion about forward planning with both the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, in whatever committees should be involved.