Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There will be several visits by Ministers to Northern Ireland and various locations between now and referendum day. After the discussions I had with people in Belfast during the week, there is evidence of little activity from the political parties on the ground in explaining to people what this referendum is about and the consequences for Northern Ireland.

I am glad the Deputy supports the campaign for people to remain members of the European Union because of its clear implications for the economy and, therefore, the livelihood and opportunities for people in Northern Ireland. Nobody wants to see a return to a hard border but, much as we would not want that to happen, if the British electorate, including Northern Ireland, were to vote to leave, it would be very difficult to continue on as we were before. While it would not be our wish to have a return to that situation, it is difficult to envisage a situation where some conditions or controls were not applied.

I hope the people, on 23 June, vote in their wisdom to stay members of the European Union. That is obviously not within our control, although, as the Deputy has often pointed out, we are co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement and we have a specific vested interest in the Irish communities there. In addition, there are 200,000 Irish jobs here and a €1.2 billion trade across the Irish Sea every week. Those who are in business in Ireland and who export through Britain say that if an exit vote were to take place, it would do serious damage to competitiveness, with delays, inefficiency and increased costs for Irish business.

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