Ray Butler (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for attending. Many of the questions I had intended to ask have been asked. I welcome the anchoring of the common travel area. I congratulate the Minister on the huge amount of work her Department has done, given the huge concerns among the public. When one considers the figures for pensions and child benefit, a huge amount of work has been done. Will there be any delay on payments if there is no deal? Will there be paperwork on both sides for pensioners or those in receipt of child benefit if there is no deal? What about the provision of information to citizens? Much of the time no information comes to them and they are left in the dark at the last minute. Does the Minister expect an increase in unemployment as a result of Brexit, especially in Border areas?

We are going into the unknown here and the Government and the Department have done a good job over the last three months. Unfortunately, we might see Britain go over the cliff on 29 March, which will be very sad. I am worried that Britain has introduced legislation, which not many people know about, providing that when skilled workers come to Britain from other European countries after Brexit they will be allowed to stay for five years while unskilled workers will be allowed to stay for three years. That has been passed by the British Parliament. I cannot understand why there has not been uproar throughout Europe about it. It is in place. However, that is a matter for another day.