Mr. John Sheridan:

I thank the committee for the opportunity to make this presentation. I would prefer to have questions on Brexit than to speak for myself. I am a farmer from south west Fermanagh. My farm is one of a number that are managed together as Legnabrocky Farms, the chief executive of which is my son. I was worried from the outset that the referendum might go the way it ultimately went. I grew up during the Troubles on a farm that adjoined the Border. I had to go through numerous army, police and customs checkpoints to travel between the local villages of Blacklion and Belcoo. I used to meet mobile patrols on the road. Every time one opened a gate, one did not know whether one was going to go up in smoke. Therefore, the first reason I was concerned about Brexit was that Europe had helped to deliver peace to this country. My farm is involved in primary beef and lamb production. We have suckler cows and sheep. Those commodities, particularly sheep, will be most affected by Brexit. I can explain the reasons for that later.

"Consternation" is the best word that I can use about the result of a referendum that was based on misrepresentation at best and lies at worst. I say this as a citizen of Europe and an Irish person holding a European passport who exercised his democratic right and voted to remain, as did 56% of the North. Of the Border counties, Fermanagh and south Tyrone were nearly 59% in favour of remaining, Armagh was approximately 65% remain and Foyle was 78% remain. There was a very strong vote to remain along the Border corridor. I do not feel like being isolated in south west Fermanagh with the only place I can go dictated by a 25 degree angle. I was brought up along the Border and have spent as much time in the South as in the North.

Under the Good Friday Agreement, the whole economic island of Ireland deserves to be considered for a special designated status. As Mr. McGenity stated, this would not affect the Constitution. The Constitution can be left for another day. The island's economies are integrated, far more so than Britain's economy is integrated with Europe's. Those economies were built for efficiency and scale, which is nearly unique in the world. They have it down to a t. This is a food island and I would like it to remain that way.