Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for attending. I am a member of the other committee and glad to have the opportunity to be here.

I agree with the strategy, as I strongly believe it would be inappropriate to bring forward the contingency legislation in this country too soon.

Its existence at too early a stage could undermine any bargaining position and examination of alternatives and would facilitate a concentration on the no-deal, all out, Brexit we are ultimately trying to avoid. The strategy is correct and has been hugely important. I am sure it has been important to the Tánaiste. Unity among all parties on the island of Ireland is important in response to the proposal for a simple and good reason. It is not only for the purposes of unity, it also stems from the fact that there was no alternative on the island of Ireland for the business sector, the political fraternity and everybody engaged in trade. The options were limited and the only option we could in any way continue as best we could after the separation of our next-door neighbour from the European Union would be on the basis maintained by the Tánaiste, the Government and the Opposition parties, for which we should be grateful.

We should be equally grateful for the unity illustrated by our European colleagues, particularly the negotiators, without whose single-mindedness of purpose the process would have collapsed a long time ago. They are all to be congratulated for the way they have understood the Irish position, how they have maintained their position and how they have kept the European Union and its objectives in mind from start to finish. That is important and I hope it will continue.

I have two questions. It is envisaged that the common travel area can be to made work after Brexit, whether it is a crash out or whatever form it will take. Can any comparisons be made with the excise union on the island of Ireland, with a view to extending the latitude identified in the common travel area?

Given the massive interdependence north and south of the island of Ireland in the business, commercial, export and import sectors, is it envisaged that dialogue and contact can be maintained with our colleagues in Northern Ireland throughout the next six months, or more, or whatever length of time it takes? Can a means be found to have a consultation and dialogue with political and business representatives in Northern Ireland, given the fact that we share the island, have common concerns and positions and, particularly, that in Northern Ireland a majority did not vote to leave the European Union.