Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I, like others, welcome the delegates and thank them for their attendance and for the various reports they have produced. The reports are quite bulky and it is obvious that the committee has put a lot of work into this issue in terms of Brexit, which is appreciated by all of us. Their reports are a useful input into the discussion. I also thank the committee for the support it has shown for the Republic of Ireland as the Brexit scenario has unfolded. It is obvious it has a very good appreciation of the issues.

In this part of western Europe we have a number of jurisdictions - the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. There is a fear that Theresa May's Conservative Government is only interested in England because she does not have much of a brief for Scotland, Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. Therefore, it is very important that the EU side in the negotiations watches out for the different regions. I have no doubt the European Committee of the Regions will input into that work and will fight that particular corner.

As the delegation will know, the discussion on the future of Europe is under way. We have had the scenarios published by the European Commission. The French President also outlined his vision for Europe, which is a useful intervention in the debate. There is a fear, now that the Franco-German axis is firmly back in place again at the centre of Europe, that we must watch out for the smaller nation states as well. We all have a role to play in the future of Europe. If there is going to be more integration in Europe, then it must be clearly spelled out and communicated. The reasons for further integration must be clearly explained to citizens. We, in Ireland, are supportive of the enlargement process, which is an issue that has been in the news over the past few days. This country has greatly benefitted from our membership of the European Union. We do not want to pull up the ladder and stop other states joining. We think the EU is a great project for peace, prosperity and progress. We would be supportive of enlargement, provided that the applicant nation states adhere to European norms and values.

On the question of INTERREG and PEACE funding, a number of projects based in the Border region exhibited here in Leinster House last week and many of the members attended. One could see the value of those projects in promoting prosperity and progress in the Border region. Therefore, it is important that such funding continues and it should be central in negotiations, whether it is the UK's commitment to funding the projects or the EU going forward. The projects have been an important part of the peace process.

On the multi-annual financial framework, the Irish Government has clearly stated at various EU summits that we are prepared to increase our contribution to the EU budget but we want to protect the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, and that we are committed to the Cohesion Fund. We have adopted that stance because we believe these matter have a very important role to play in terms of the cohesion of Europe. I assume the European Committee of the Regions is supportive of CAP in its present form, or the present funding at any rate, and also the Cohesion Fund. I wonder about the increased contribution made by member states as there may be different contributions made by nation states. Perhaps the European Committee of the Regions has a particular view on same.

Again, I thank the delegates for their attendance. Their reports have made a useful input into the debate. We appreciate all the work that has been done by the committee, particularly on the Irish situation.