Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is here specifically to discuss this legislation. I will ask him a few questions as we have three reports to deal with immediately afterwards. The Minister of State addressed some of the questions I intended asking on the common travel area, CTA. As a member of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, BIPA, I was one of the authors of a report on the common travel area. We were in the middle of producing the report when the referendum on Brexit was held and we had to insert a caveat at the end as a result. It is to ensure that nothing in our legislation undermines the standing of the common travel area and that, regardless of what happens on 29 March, nothing will undermine that status, especially given the cross-Border institutions and the industries for which people regularly cross the Border or that straddle the Border. That has obviously been the intent of the Government and all of the parties here.

Specific questions have not been addressed. The EU habitats directive has major implications for Ireland and I do not know what Britain's view of it is or what it will be in the future if Britain extracts itself from the European project. The directive has had a major effect on us in Ireland. We have had major debates on issues and changes of practice have resulted. As an island, it would be detrimental to us if such directives were not complied with or were not acknowledged in the Six Counties and in this State. Obviously, this State will abide by the EU directives but we do not know what will be the position in Britain in the future.

On Waterways Ireland, I have been on the waterways in some of the boats that go up and down the canals. Will travel documents be required in future when crossing the Border on a waterway? It is still a common travel area but when will separate insurance documents be required once one enters waterways in a different jurisdiction in future?

This other issue I raise is bizarre and one I have not heard discussed. It is stáideas an teanga but ní an Gaeilge. I refer to the status of the English language within the European Union. On the basis that England was in the European Union, English had working language status. Whereas the French were never happy with the dominance of the English language, is there a danger in the future that the status of English will be reduced? This would pose difficulties not only for us, but also for countries on the outside and for Britain trading with the European Union in the future? Has there been any discussion about the standing of the English language, even if I would like the status of the Irish language to be raised? It is one of those strange debates that came up a few months ago and I have not heard anything about it since. Sin an méid uaimse.