Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to meet the witnesses and to hear their views. I agree largely with my colleague, Senator Neale Richmond, with the proviso that the Good Friday Agreement is a solemn agreement between two Governments which are its co-guarantors. There is no going back on that, whatever way they fix it. We have the backstop as a guarantee albeit we want to get over it. The four parties in the North have agreed that we do not want borders in Ireland or between Ireland and Britain or between both islands and Europe. Europe, of course, does not want to lose the markets here and in Britain and Britain does not want to lose the 500 million strong European market. As the witnesses know better than I, Europe is famous for last minute, 11th hour deals. Senator Richmond is right that we must prepare for the worst but hope for the best. I am an optimist and I am hoping for the best.

I know it will be at the 11th hour. I have no doubt that Michel Barnier's team and David Davis's team are both working hard in Brussels and going through the minutiae. No doubt they will arrive at a fudge, or whatever, to get over the June summit and arrive at the big deal in October or November. That is what we must hope and work for. The difficulty, as we all know, is the divisions within the British Cabinet and the Conservative Party. The Prime Minister is trying to take one step forward and two steps back, or two steps forward and one step back. I hope it is the latter but progress is being made inch by inch. The process will be difficult.

We appreciate very much that Europe is keeping the Irish interest to the fore. We have no doubt whatever about that.

The witnesses must forgive me, as the Seanad is about to resume and I must Chair it. I hope they enjoy their trip to the North.