Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Absolutely. The Minister mentioned the word "focus". Being from a Border county, it was difficult to get people to focus on it even before Covid. It is one of those scenarios where people think it will be all right on the night, that it will work itself out eventually, a deal will be done and life will go on. One thing I have taken from the Minister's very informative contribution, and it is an important message to convey, is that when we pull our bedroom curtains back on 1 January, the world will look like a different place. Perhaps more work needs to be done to convey that message between now and the end of the year, because I am not convinced people are tuned into what life will be like on 1 January. Some form of television or marketing campaign to hammer that point home might not be a bad idea. There is so much happening at present with people's attention on Covid and trying to stay safe that I sense Brexit is very much on the back burner. I worry about that and that we are not understanding what the consequences will be for us when 1 January arrives.

Senator Martin mentioned in his contribution that no country will be more affected by Brexit than Ireland, which is a fair comment. I would dig deeper and say no part of the country is going to be more affected by Brexit than the Border counties. That concerns me. I am concerned about the free movement of people over the Border, how that is going to affect relationships North and South and how it will affect business from the point of view of businesses in the South trying to trade and keep going. It is to be hoped the issue of smuggling along the Border will not be a problem, but traditionally there always has been movement between North and South. If prices are cheaper in the North, the reality is that people in the South, especially in the Border counties, will travel there to shop and so forth.

The other issue is that when push comes to shove and in all negotiations, we are one player in the EU. When the pressure is applied, and we all understand that every side has to give a bit to get a deal, is the Minister concerned that the pressure might come from the EU to get a deal and basically get this off the table, and that we might be asked to take a deep breath and swallow things that we would not swallow today? We might be forced to do so as it approaches the finish line. How concerned is the Minister about that at present?

The other issue, which the Minister mentioned, is the relationship with the UK post Brexit. That is vital because the UK is our nearest neighbour and we have a unique and close relationship with it, despite the history. It is and always will be our closest neighbour. I worry that relationships could become fraught when these negotiations are over. I hate to think that would be the case. It is important that there are channels whereby we can rebuild the relationship with the UK, if that is necessary.

I wish the Minister well. The country is in safe hands with him at the wheel. I sincerely hope he gets a deal we all can live with and that we will all be back here singing his praises after 1 January.