Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will take a leaf out of Deputy Martin's book.

The Taoiseach raised a number of points which I would like to discuss. I refer first to the proposed referendum on a British withdrawal from the European Union, also known as Brexit. Following the Taoiseach's meeting with Prime Minister Cameron yesterday, he expressed the view that all of Britain's demands for reform of the EU could be solved and referred to a number of these demands in his response. The next meeting of the European Council will take place on 18 and 19 February. The December European Council set itself the explicit objective of securing an agreement on mutually satisfactory solutions. The British Prime Minister indicated previously that he hoped to reach a deal on Britain's membership of the EU next month, which would clear the way for a referendum as early as this summer. However, in his remarks yesterday, Mr. Cameron seemed less sure of this.

It is not necessary for me to outline the consequences of a British exit from the European Union for Ireland, especially the North. For eight decades, we have had a physical border between the two States and an economic, social, cultural and political border which has been the source of enormous dislocation and, at times, conflict. The Good Friday Agreement transformed the position, however, and the physical Border has become all but invisible. Nevertheless, much work remains to be done on the economic and political barriers between the Twenty-six Counties and Six Counties. Any move towards Brexit would be a retrograde step as it would create the potential for a return to border controls, which would have a highly detrimental impact on the economy of the Border counties. The adverse effects of a Brexit on the all-Ireland bodies established as part of the Good Friday Agreement also need to be taken into consideration.

The outcome of the UK referendum on EU membership should not determine the fate of the North in respect of these matters. Has the Taoiseach sought an assurance from the British Government that the outcome of the referendum in the North alone will determine the relationship between this State and the Six Counties? The Taoiseach referred to some of the areas on which he believes compromise could be reached. Will he elaborate on these matters?

The Taoiseach also referred to the refugee crisis and indicated that the discussions at the European Council meetings in Brussels in October, November and December, respectively, were very much focused on the issue of refugees.

I take this opportunity to commend the work of the Naval Service, which successfully rescued a staggering 8,631 people during its humanitarian operations in the Mediterranean Sea in 2015. The extraordinary loss of life as refugees flee violence, war and poverty in the Middle East and north Africa has shocked and saddened all of us. Last year, 3,770 men, women and children died trying to cross the Mediterranean. We also saw the images of the three-year-old child on a Turkish beach. I acknowledge the tremendous work that the naval vessels carried out. There are no naval vessels in the region at the moment. Traditionally, the winter months see fewer refugees trying to make the dangerous journey. Unfortunately, some are still trying to make that journey. At least 43 people, including 17 children, drowned only last Friday when their boat collapsed off the Greek islands. According to the International Organization for Migration, over 100 refugees have drowned since the start of the year. That is more than the combined totals for January 2014 and 2015. It is estimated that almost 37,000 have arrived in Italy and Greece since the beginning of the year. There is no doubt we are seeing an unprecedented growth in the number of refugees trying to cross the Mediterranean. Are there any plans? When is it planned to send Irish naval vessels back out on humanitarian missions? I wish to come back in later, a Cheann Comhairle, because I have some other questions, but I know Deputy Martin is keen to get in.

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