Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank our colleagues. It is good to see them, albeit virtually. If they were betting at a racecourse, what would be the odds of a deal today? Yesterday was significant, but when Mr. Benn was last in the Oireachtas - I believe it was May 2019 - we were all negative about the prospect of getting a deal. As such, it can be done. Were the witnesses to bet on a deal, what would be the odds?

Mr. Kinnock spoke about a race to the bottom in the context of Deputy Richmond's question around devolution. We on this side are hearing that one of the main issues of divergence is the level playing field. The witnesses know that it is meant to stop a race to the bottom in workers' rights, environmental issues and standards, which the EU has been important in pushing. In a trade deal, what is the bottom line in respect of those issues?

I was intrigued by Dr. Whitford's comment about fishing. We are told that fishing is the other main issue. Our fishing industry is incredibly exposed to Brexit and our fishermen do not have the opportunity to re-register. For the UK, is this issue totemic or real and what are the prospects of a compromise?