Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will address some of the issues related to the common travel area. The general scheme, as published on 24 January, reflects Ireland's commitment to the CTA, including through legislative provision to ensure the agreed CTA rights and privileges in health, education, social protection, justice and security are protected under any circumstance. One will see some of those in the Brexit omnibus Bill that will be published this week and also in some of the motions that were passed last week on a social security agreement between the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, and her counterpart in the UK. Those rights will continue.

The Chairman made an interesting point on the English language. I understand English will continue to be a working language in the European Union. There may be advantages for Ireland because, as an English-speaking country, we will be able to provide interpretation facilities and so on. There may now be more opportunities in terms of interpretation within the European Union for Irish citizens given that they are able to speak in English.

On the habitats directive, this is an area that has been identified. The island of Ireland and Great Britain form a distinct geographical area. Rivers that flow from the North to the South will not know what Brexit means and do not know what a border means. Clearly, after the UK's departure from the EU, enhanced dialogue bilaterally with the UK and Northern Ireland will be required on matters of nature conservation and protection. One could argue there is currently a risk that the UK could acquire competitive advantage should it operate in a more relaxed regulatory framework than would be required under EU nature directives. I imagine there would also be a counter move within the United Kingdom to ensure that it complies with the standards that the European Union forces on member states. Clearly, in relation to climate change and the value of nature and all that goes with it, there will be a campaign in the United Kingdom. While there is a risk over time of diverging standards and what might happen 20, 30, 40 or 50 years from now, there is a clear understanding of the need to continue dialogue between both jurisdictions. As I said, there is a cross-Border dimension, whether it be in respect of mountain ranges or special areas of conservation, that span different counties. We have to acknowledge that wetlands, rivers, peat bogs and so on can cross jurisdictions. Any reduction of standards in the North could have an impact on the South. For example, any works that will have an impact on a peat bog in Northern Ireland could hypothetically have an impact on local rivers and the Shannon system. We have to be conscious of these issues. When the North-South bodies re-establish, this is an area on which we will need to focus post Brexit.