Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the proposed enlargement in any case.

I will say a few words on Brexit. The Minister of State portrayed the Commissioner, Mr. Hogan, in a good light. I agree with her and it is generally accepted, not only in Ireland but throughout Europe, that he has been an excellent Commissioner. Please God, he has been mentioned for promotion under the new arrangements. I will understand if the Minister of State is unable to comment on that. I wish the Commissioner well.

Brexit is a very fluid situation. Ireland must be concerned about the future of the 80% of our exports to continental Europe which go through the British landbridge. The Minister of State might comment on that. I would be very worried about that in the event of a no-deal Brexit. If I read the position correctly, with Mr. Raab pulling back and given the comments made by the UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. Hunt, the balance seems to be edging towards excluding a no-deal Brexit, which is very good from our point of view. The Labour Party wants a customs union or as near as possible to what we have at present. Whatever one might think of Mr. Corbyn, the balance of the party is right. There is also a welcome sign that the Speaker, Mr. Bercow, has now come out strongly in favour of parliament having its view. My reading of Mr. Bercow and his comments today is that he very much upholds what parliament has already decided in excluding a no deal. While he cannot make that decision, he has had his voice heard and seems to be a tough Speaker in that regard. I would welcome the Minister of State's comments on those matters. I hope I am reading the position correctly. Hopefully, the ball has turned a little in our favour. Maybe it was not going against us but I am reading the signals as being a little more hopeful than they were some days ago.