Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for the question. We find ourselves in the bizarre situation that wearing a different label, the UK Independence Party, a party not known to be interested in workers or Ireland, has a view that happens to accord with Sinn Féin and Cóir Youth Defence. The guarantees have full international status. First and foremost, they come from a decision of the European Council, made by 27 sovereign and independent states and have all the weight that goes with that. During this debate I have challenged people to name one occasion on which the 27, 15 or six member states reneged on a decision they made with regard to one another. It is preposterous. Going beyond that, as Deputy Michael D. Higgins stated, this decision will be lodged with the United Nations and nobody has ever challenged that process, which was adopted in the case of Denmark and, the Deputy reminded the House, in the case of the Belfast Agreement; it is not challengeable. These groups can make as many charges and allegations as they wish but the reality is that the guarantees will be translated into a protocol. Given that an agreement has been reached between Slovenia and Croatia on the thorny issue on the piece of coastline outside Izola and Piran, we will see progress made there.

The Irish people are entitled to a truthful debate. I respect people who take a different view from me on Europe, and I have stated this on several occasions, even though I will never turn around to their view and they will probably never turn around to mine. However, I disrespect people, such as members of the UKIP, making mendacious claims that have nothing to do with Irish life. During a recent debate at the Shelbourne Hotel I said to Mr. Farage, a charming gentleman from that party, that I do not object to his views because of where he comes from but I object to the views he expressed in the literature referred to by Deputy Creighton because of what he stands for. It is a bigoted, narrow, insular, little Englander view that has nothing whatsoever to add to political debate in this country and certainly it is not a view held with the interests of the Irish people at heart.

See this speech in context