Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Senator McDowell mentioned an issue regarding lawyers from the Republic. We are a common law English-speaking country and have a special relationship with our nearest neighbours. I hope there will be no prohibition on Irish barristers, coming from a member state, being called to the Bar or the inns in England and Wales and that the British will make it as easy as it always has been. I hope there will also be access for solicitors.

We hear a lot about Northern Ireland. I wish those in Northern Ireland good luck and hope they get the best of both worlds, but it would be very good if unique special arrangements could be put in place on this small island for people living in the Republic of Ireland. Will the Minister assure us that, although we do not have a direct negotiator at the table with Michel Barnier, she is satisfied that the Republic of Ireland will be properly represented when negotiating the finer details? There are things which may not have become apparent which the Good Friday Agreement did not anticipate as it was not expected that the British would leave. One cannot look around the corner often enough to anticipate the unintended or the unexpected.

It is by no means a big issue but could we also look at any implications for the Bosman ruling? I do not expect the Minister to have an answer on this today. Jean-Marc Bosman was a footballer better known for his court challenge at the European Court of Justice than for his skills as an underage footballer with Belgium. I mean it as no poor reflection on the League of Ireland but we do sometimes take players in the autumn of their careers who are out of contract. I hope no fees will suddenly be levied on professional footballers who would like to grace the Republic of Ireland with their skills in the autumn of their careers.

Then there is the extra anomaly with Derry City Football Club being in the League of Ireland, but situated within Northern Ireland. I would like to see a special arrangement being made for the Republic of Ireland in the unique and straining circumstances, to make the most of this situation and do our best to turn a negative into a positive. I know the Minister is doing her best here. She is most welcome here today and it is great that she has the portfolio she does, given her experience in the Thirty-second Dáil. We need to address those smaller points as best we can at this stage.