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

I remember being told this in Ballyconnell at 7 a.m. on a Monday by the Taoiseach at the time. The Chairman has heard me mention on several occasions that there is a lack of respect nowadays in this country, and possibly elsewhere as well, for experience and corporate knowledge, particularly in governance. In political life at least, there is a lack of respect for the experience and corporate knowledge that may be out there. That may be an issue in the public service, from speaking to people who were at senior level in it. It goes back to the point some would make in respect of Brexit and the associated danger. Two people who warned about the political consequences of Brexit for Northern Ireland were two former British Prime Ministers, Mr. Blair and Mr. Major, who campaigned in Derry together against Brexit. They put out a clear message in respect of the political difficulties that could arise in Northern Ireland if the referendum were passed. They had a very good track record in the context of this country. Mr. Major issued the Downing Street Declaration and-----