Councillor Des Hurley:

I am delighted to be here today. Like my colleague, Councillor Sheahan, I am a very new member of the committee. Luckily, Councillor Hanniffy, seated beside me, and some other members have been able to guide me along.

Wearing the green jersey and representing the country comes naturally to us on the committee but other committees do the same for their countries. I was going to ask a couple of questions on what might happen when Scotland and England decide on their future in the EU, but Deputies Kyne and Joe O'Reilly have given me an indication. Within our own political groups there are differences of opinion on what is the best thing to happen - whether to stay in or stay out. There is even a huge difference of opinions between the British delegations. I have found that other members have leaned towards the Irish and asked us what the British will do and whether they are playing games. I am very concerned about the effect that the matter will have on Ireland. A reintroduction of borders would have a detrimental effect on employment and so on that affects us over here. We cannot play around with the matter and we need to have a positive direction in which to go.