Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I would have asked Professor Phinnemore about the Tory policy on the idea of withdrawing from the Convention on Human Rights. One of the areas Professor Phinnemore touched on was the more strident language coming from Europe. Does this arise from frustration and the fact that the British seem to put the position forward and then withdraw from it? Is that why the European Commission is becoming more strident in its language or is it out of frustration that the British Government would appear to agree to one thing and then there is another person on the front page of the newspapers the following day disagreeing with that position? Does Professor Phinnemore see that as part of the negotiations?

He referred to the North-South Ministerial Council being fit for purpose post Brexit, and this was a recommendation in the committee's report published last June, but in the absence of the Executive, is Professor Phinnemore aware of any discussions to take this recommendation forward? Professor Phinnemore stressed the importance of the restoration of devolution and we would all agree that must be a priority, but he states that it was the first priority of the British Government. Again, if that is the British Government's first priority, I do not see anything being done to support it, for example calling the parties in. Is the timing wrong with court cases and other things? It does not appear to be a priority at present. It is articulated as a priority but it does not appear to be so.

Professor Phinnemore referred to the Erasmus student exchange programme. Is there a political appetite for it? Many believe there are solutions to soften the impact of Brexit, however the solutions appear not to be acceptable to the Tory Brexiteers and to the DUP.

Dr. Hayward stressed the importance of all parties being engaged in the process, and not just Sinn Féin and the DUP. Many of the other parties were in opposition and had a view on how the devolved administration should proceed.

The DUP and the Tories think that Brexit will generate new trading agreements. Some are adamant that this is the way forward, that there are positives, but we have not heard them. Who will enumerate the advantages of Brexit? However when one focuses on the the level of productivity in the North compared to the rest of the world, the productivity in the South is 60% higher. Productivity in the North is 15% lower than in other regions of Britain, Wales and Scotland. Do the witnesses see positive outcomes for the North, which we on this side of the Border do not see?

In regard to the Border, it has been stated that with the UK leaving the customs union, the hardening of the Irish Border becomes inevitable. The European Commission has repeatedly stated its intention of avoiding a hard border, and the British Government has also given that commitment but how in the witness's view can this happen? Are there alternatives for Ireland?

Some of the ideas raised today were challenging, the idea of Erasmus students coming to Ireland and the fact that people from Britain who are living in the North will face an impact. I certainly have not heard that discussed.