Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 23 October 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Update on Brexit Engagement: Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

Photo of Pádraig Mac LochlainnPádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I listened intently to the questions from Deputy Chambers and I must come to the view that they were asked with an eye to the next general election rather than the best interests of the country and what has just happened in the Brexit negotiations. With the exception of the DUP, the people of Ireland, North and South, have stood together. Civil society, businesses, farming organisations and political parties on the island of Ireland have stood together with one clear message. A decision made predominantly by English people cannot impact on the Good Friday Agreement. There can be no hard border on the island of Ireland, and in line with the Good Friday agreement, a solution must be based on the consent of the majority of people of the North of Ireland. That was the litmus test. These were the areas in which we had to stand together and defend Irish interests.

A point has been made about the backstop. The backstop was a compromise. It was the very least that we could accept. It protected all of the concerns I have just outlined. Deputy Chambers has stated that what has been negotiated is worse. She gave a very negative assessment and made negative predictions of what will happen in four years. That is the Good Friday Agreement. The Good Friday Agreement states that the majority of the people of the North of Ireland decide the future of the North of Ireland. There was an attempt by the DUP to turn that into a veto for a section of unionism. That has been rejected, which is fair and consistent with the Good Friday Agreement. The agreement that has been negotiated protects Irish interests on a range of levels. It is churlish and wrong to pick apart votes that will take place in four years. As I say, an eye was on the next general election while questions were put to undermine the hard work put in by the Irish Government, supported by all the political parties in Ireland, with the exception of the DUP, and our colleagues in Europe. It is important to put that on the record.

However, the agreement is not perfect and I will now mention some questions and challenges. I thank the Chairperson for allowing me to put that on the record. I was taken aback by the earlier line of questioning.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.