Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. As this is my first speech in the House, I thank the people of Dublin South-West for voting for me and allowing me to represent them in Dáil Éireann. I will strive to work for the duration of this Dáil to represent and work for them.

This is one of the most important debates we will have in the lifetime of this Dáil, regardless of its length. We cannot overestimate the impact that Britain’s leaving the European Union would have on our country, that country and the EU. Many have spoken about the impact on Ireland and many aspects of that impact. As one who is Irish and who is proud to be European, I think we need to consider the impact on England, the UK and Europe. It would be a disaster for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. The United Kingdom belongs in the European Union. It should be an integral part of Europe and should, along with Ireland and the other member countries, lead the challenge on how Europe is shaped and developed. If it leaves, it will turn its back on one of the greatest institutions the world has seen. One of the greatest achievements of the 20th century was developing an institution designed to ensure that the people who live in Europe could live in greater prosperity and without the fear of war. The UK and other European countries had taken part in wars for centuries before then.

The EU has contributed on many levels to the development of Europe, a contribution enhanced by British membership since we, along with it, joined in 1973. If we believe that it is imperative that the UK remain in the EU, we owe a duty, as people living in this country, as public representatives and as citizens of the great republic that Ireland is, to use everything we have in our power to influence our fellow-Europeans, British or Irish people living in Britain, to make sure their voice is heard and they make the case for remaining in Europe. We cannot do that out of a selfish interest in what is in it for Ireland. We must be able to show, particularly to second generation Irish people and people who have lived most of their lives in the UK but who are Irish, that it is to their benefit. Unfortunately, the British media are dominated by a diatribe of endless anti-EU sentiment. A small sectional interest of British society controls the media which never give Europe an even break. The chasm between how many British people see Europe and how we see it could not be wider. We now have an opportunity to try to change that and point out how, on the economic, cultural and European levels, Britain’s future is in Europe and that remaining there will be to the benefit, not just of those living in the UK now but their children and grandchildren.

If Britain remains in the EU, we will benefit by default because our history links us intrinsically to Britain. We have no option but for the sake of our country to try to ensure we use every channel to make sure Britain remains in the EU and that Ireland and Britain remain linked within the EU, pushing a pro-Europe agenda that is good for Ireland, Britain and Europe. That is a pro-jobs agenda that concentrates on how Europe can benefit small countries in particular in developing their economies through closer integration and the ability to trade.

There is no going back. If Britain leaves, a magic wand will not bring us back to 1973. The damaging impact on our economy would be substantial, as would be the impact on free movement between the two parts of our island, between Ireland and Europe and Ireland and the UK. On the micro, macro and European levels, there is no positive outcome from Britain leaving, for Britain or Ireland. It is almost imperative that every Irish person contact their friends and family in the UK, other British people they know in that country and those living in this country who have a right to vote to urge them to make the case, not just for Ireland’s sake but for Britain’s sake. In particular, they should make the case for the part of our island which would be devastated were Britain to withdraw.

Britain is a proud united kingdom with four constituent parts - Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England. It is sad that Britain does not see that if a majority in three of those constituent parts were to want to remain within the European Union and a majority, through force of numbers in one part, England, were to choose to leave, the result of Brexit would be not just damage to the European Union but the destruction of the United Kingdom. That is not to anybody’s benefit. We need to redouble our efforts here to do everything to stop Britain leaving the EU, not just for this generation and this referendum, which chances to fall on my birthday, but for future generations of European children.

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