Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the presentations. The delegates are also welcome. Ms Hough's statements were very much to the effect that not having functioning political institutions in Northern Ireland at this time is a great tragedy. Unfortunately, we cannot have the North-South Ministerial Council without the Executive and Assembly functioning in Northern Ireland. The council provided for Ministers both North and South to work in plenary session twice a year and then in sectoral format between the relevant Departments in dealing with issues on a day-to-day basis. That was practical co-operation concerning the issues that were highlighted in Ms Duggan's presentation as well. That is where such issues could be dealt with, planned for and resourced. The system made provision for Departments to jointly pursue funding with the EU for cross-Border projects. It is a significant loss not to have the North-South Ministerial Council and, by definition, the Executive and the Assembly at a time the entire island needs a common voice in Europe on the issues that will adversely impact us because of Brexit. I very much welcome the presentations. At the start of her contribution, Ms Hough referred to how forward looking the Good Friday Agreement was in respect of having the environmental co-operation and the protection of farmers as one of the 12 areas of co-operation, and that two of the six North-South all-Ireland implementation bodies, Waterways Ireland and the Loughs Agency, have a significant environmental remit.

The civic forum was not operational even when the Executive and the Assembly were in situbecause the political parties in Stormont did not agree to have it constituted. If it had existed at some stage, I believe that it would have a major contribution to make to civic society, be it through trade unions and business and civic society representative organisations. That is missed as well at present, at a time one needs as much co-operation and working together as possible, not just within Northern Ireland but on an all-Ireland basis.

One issue that, unfortunately, has not gone away is the damage that can be caused to the environment on a North-South basis due to illegal smuggling, illicit trade and fuel laundering. It is regrettable that there is not an independent environmental protection agency in Northern Ireland. An organisation with such a remit must be a stand-alone agency free of a department to ensure it could rigorously implement the applicable regulations and legislation on the protection of the environment. Previously, when the environmental pillar was before the committee I outlined the threat to the food industry and other sectors due to the dumping of sludge and other illegal dumping. If the waterways are contaminated, that can have a negative knock-on effect on grassland and natural food production areas. The good name and provenance of the Irish food industry on an all-Ireland basis could be damaged if difficulties arise due to illegal dumping and such deplorable behaviour that, unfortunately, has affected parts of the country in the past. An Garda Síochána, the Revenue Commissioners, the Environmental Protection Agency and various local authorities along the Border, and their counterparts in Northern Ireland, have worked to try to eliminate that. At times, good progress has been made but only recently there have again been unfortunate incidents of illegal activity. Apart from the illegal activity itself, there are implications for the good name of industry, the environment, food production and other production systems.

The contributions of both delegates were very much based on the need for the political institutions and the all-Ireland political institutions to work together. The North-South Ministerial Council has great potential and I hope it will be operational in the future. I very much welcome the contributions of both delegates.

The delegates pointed out very clearly the considerable and negative impact that Brexit could have on all aspects of living in this country. The British talk about "global Britain". I do not agree with the terms they use but I hope that Britain, as a big trading country, will not dumb down its standards. Trade with the international community will be secured and protected only if the people who are buying products know that proper environmental standards are being adhered to where they are sourced. The standards have been built up throughout Europe painstakingly and have represented a major imposition on primary producers, be it farmers or others, but this is the reason Ireland can sell food throughout the entire world. Those with purchasing power in other countries know our products are produced and processed to very high standards. This needs to continue in all parts of the island. I thank our guests for their presentations.