Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Clearly the Brexit vote has shaken the ruling elite in the European Union and beyond, with statements coming lately from President Obama. They are worried about the possibility of destabilising a cosy consensus among the ruling elite on a global, financial, capital arrangement they have, and on future projects that they hoped to create around battle groups incorporating an EU-wide army that included the British. They are also concerned about the effect this exit might have on the arrangements for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, TTIP, and other competitive and trading arrangements.

The sentiment behind Brexit is definitely complex. Racism played its part, but so did a sentiment that is part of a wider revolt against the European Union that I just described - the European Union of war, wealth, power and economic bullyboys who have shaped Europe as a haven for the very wealthy at the expense of the people, whose democratic wishes they chose to ignore.

This is a slap in the face for the Europe that forced Irish, Greek, Spanish and Portuguese workers to bail out bankers and bondholders. Even though Greece is the cradle of democracy, the EU cruelly ignored the democratic wishes of the Greek people when it forced them to privatise some of their most precious assets, including their heritage. What the EU has done to the people of Europe is absolutely obscene.

The racist far-right proponents of Brexit, including Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson, have no place in shaping the future of Britain. Their hateful rhetoric against migrants and refugees was largely unchallenged in the debate by both the "Leave" and "Remain" sides, to the disgrace of both sides. There must be a lesson in that for the future of politics of Britain and elsewhere. The vote to leave was encased in Labour strongholds, including areas that were decimated by the loss of jobs in coalfields, mines and steelworks and by the imposition of austerity by successive Tory and Labour governments.

I believe the future of Britain will be shaped by the battle that is taking place inside the UK Labour Party today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. The leadership of that party will either remain with Jeremy Corbyn, who has a vision for change that involves redistributing wealth and getting justice for the British people, or pass to the warmongering, racism and austerity of his opponent, Angela Eagle. If Jeremy Corbyn wins this important battle between the right and left of the UK Labour Party, the future of British politics will be blown open. I want to send solidarity to Jeremy Corbyn from the left in the Irish Parliament. We hope he stays in for the long haul and wins this battle despite the haranguing and harassment of the right.

I would like to put the record straight with regard to the future of Scotland and Northern Ireland, both of which voted to stay in the EU. People Before Profit absolutely respects the democratic right of those countries to have polls on their futures. We are in favour of a Border poll. We are extremely disappointed that Sinn Féin has attacked People Before Profit. I assume that attack is probably based on the stated position of our allies in the Anti-Austerity Alliance. We have an honest disagreement with the alliance on the question of the Border, just as Sinn Féin has honest disagreements internally on the question of the right to choose. Indeed, Sinn Féin has an honest disagreement with its allies in the DUP on the question of Irish unity.

When one considers the impact of Brexit on Ireland, one must reflect on the EU's recent statement on the derogation from water charges. The ink was hardly dry on the Brexit result when the EU told the Irish people that they have no derogation from water charges and will have to pay. This statement was made in spite of the demonstrations, the protests and the votes that were cast against water charges in the general election, the result of which is reflected in this Parliament. The first and most important lesson to take from Brexit is that we must always stand and organise against racism and the far-right. The second lesson is that we have to continue the fight for democracy and against the EU in this country. We might even see an Eirexit at some future stage.

The startling hypocrisy of our Government in eulogising the EU despite the savagery it has imposed on us is absolutely breathtaking, as Deputy Boyd Barrett might say. Brian Hayes, MEP has announced that if the EU goes after our 12.5% corporation tax rate, we are out. It seems it is okay for the Government to go after lone parents, teachers and nurses, to impose stealth taxes and to create a housing crisis and a trolley crisis, but it is not okay for anyone to dare to touch our corporation tax rate. It is absolute hypocrisy. The response of the EU to the result of the referendum has been to organise separate meetings. It is astounding that it has responded to the democratic will of the British people with this sort of "up yours" message. The Government sitting across from me is also behaving disgracefully. It is shameful that it has spent almost €500,000 defending Apple, which owes the State €19 billion, in the European courts. It is a disgrace. Rather than defending Apple, we should be trying to get that money back from it.

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