Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I am speaking on behalf of the Green Party, which is an all-Ireland party. I am joined by my colleague, Clare Bailey, from the Assembly in the North. We are very close to our English and Scottish colleagues and our colleagues in the European Parliament, Philippe Lamberts and others, with whom we work very closely on the European Green Party position. I am very heartened by what Mr. Verhofstadt said because it marks a change from what Mr. Barnier said when he was here a few months ago, to the effect that a border is a border. He said there would be free movement of people but not of trade or goods, but Mr. Verhofstadt has said the solution has to be one where an effective customs union or the Single Market is upheld. Will that be the red line? Will the Parliament, which has the ultimate veto on any agreement, accept it? We are now into the second phase of the negotiations because the first phase was primarily about people. It seems Mr. Verhofstadt said that he will protect this island in the area of customs, goods and services. He concentrated on four words, which were, "as they may choose", and in respect of the Good Friday Agreement there are another four key words, "in all its parts". How will the European Parliament choose when it comes to preserving the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts? Mr. Verhofstadt's language today could not have given a clearer signal that we were going to preserve an island for the trade in goods and services and not just people. I welcome his clarity on this as it is the right position. Mr. Verhofstadt should be strong on it or the negotiations will take place and, at the very end, the British will say they did not know that was his position. I agree with the position he has set out today.