Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yes. On Thursday, a crucial vote will take place on whether the North and Britain will remain in or leave the European Union. A vote to leave, a so-called Brexit, would have big implications for the island of Ireland and for our two economies. It would lead to the reintroduction of some form of border and customs controls. Partition creates enough problems already without the need for the reintroduction of checkpoints and what some people have called a hard border.

In my constituency of Louth, partition creates serious difficulties for business development, investment, farmers, cross-Border shoppers and for communities who live on either side of the Border. The Brexit debate has focused attention on these issues and I call on the Government and the other parties to keep that focus beyond the Brexit vote. It is no coincidence that the Border region suffers most from disadvantage, high levels of unemployment and low investment and much more could be done to reverse this situation.

We know that more than €1.2 billion is traded each week in goods and services between this island and Britain. Much of that is agricultural produce and there is great potential in this sector. However, farmers are currently facing huge difficulties. Many farmers will find their livelihoods at risk if Brexit is the outcome of the debate and this referendum. It would also mean an end to vital rural development funding, structural funds and PEACE II funding. All of these funds are vital for small and medium sized businesses, community regeneration schemes and community groups. I was at a conference on the Border recently organised by Sinn Féin and attended by people from south Armagh, south Down and north Louth where many of these issues were debated thoroughly.

I have already made the point that Sinn Féin wants to see a Brexit from Ireland. However, in the meantime we also want to see an all-Ireland approach to the European Union and, unlike Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, we remain very critical of many aspects of the EU and in particular the profound lack of democracy at its core. We want to see a social Europe, a Europe of equals, in which citizens, assemblies and parliaments have a greater say in formulating policy. It is possible. We want to see a European Union where the rights of citizens and member states are respected on the basis of equality.

The Council meeting next week will also provide political leaders with the opportunity to consider the outcome of the referendum, whatever it may be, and to determine how the EU should respond. I look forward to a debate in this House next week also.

Yesterday was World Refugee Day and the United Nations has released data which shows the number of people displaced by conflict is at the highest level since records began. The UN records estimate that 65.3 million people are either refugees, asylum seekers or internally displaced at the end of 2015. Despite the Government’s pledge in September 2015 to take in 4,000 refugees, so far I understand only one Syrian family has been resettled in the State under the EU’s relocation programme. If this is true then it is unacceptable. In the face of such an unparalleled humanitarian crisis the Government needs to be doing more to ensure refugees have safe and legal routes to relocate in the State.

I join with the Taoiseach in commending the crew of theLE Róisínfor their valiant work in rescuing people who are in danger on the Mediterranean Sea. However, despite the efforts of these crews, according to the UN over 10,000 people have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea since 2014. Consider the figure of 10,000 people which is the size of a town and these include children and women. Some 2,814 people have drowned this year. That is the size of the crisis. When I hear people talking about the virtues of the EU and I see it against the backdrop of this situation it is very heart wrenching especially when we think of what our own Nation went through with regard to coffin ships and all that went with that. I note that Doctors Without Borders has announced it will no longer accept funds from the EU in protest at the EU's shameful policies on the refugee crisis, particularly the deal with Turkey.

I conclude by calling on the Taoiseach to raise once again the issue of Ibrahim Halawa. He is the only EU citizen who is currently facing a trial such as that facing him in Egypt. I wrote to the Taoiseach a few weeks ago on this issue. Ibrahim should be at home with his family and friends. Perhaps the Taoiseach could confirm that he will raise Ibrahim's case at the European Council meeting?

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