Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I share my brother's concerns with regard to the worrying time in which we find ourselves. The meeting of the Heads of State last week was one of the most important leaders' meeting in a long time in the context of the perilous situation in which Ireland finds itself following on from the UK referendum decision. To say that we were surprised at the outcome would be an understatement. While we respect people's right to vote in whatever way they wish, the decision has dangerous, knock-on consequences for Ireland in the context of its proximity to the UK and it being our nearest and largest trading partner. Our daily lives are affected by the UK market, sterling and how the UK economy is fairing. I cannot see the UK fairing any better following on from this decision and for that reason I am concerned about the knock-on effects for Ireland, particularly our farming and manufacturing sectors.

Since the referendum result, I have met with the leaders of many of the farm representative organisations on a number of occasions. They are extremely fearful for the beef sector. The Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, will be aware of what is happening in our dairy sector and how dairy farmers are losing money every day of the week. This decision is further destabilising that situation. It is certainly doing nothing to help it. I am concerned about whether our farms will be financially viable into the future because of the way the markets are going.

Anyone involved in manufacturing in this country, particularly small and medium-sized manufacturing, is terribly reliant on their exports to Great Britain every day and the way that trade determines how many people will be at work in Ireland. Thousands of jobs will be on the line if we do not steer this ship very studiously and carefully. It takes the Government working with the Opposition and all of us to ensure that we do everything to protect our nation's interests at this crucial time. As my brother, Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, rightly stated, we are where we are now but where will we be in another year's time or two or three years' time after the triggering of Article 50? What if other countries start to look at themselves? What would the situation in Europe be if France decided to pull out tomorrow morning? The cumulative effect of this could be disastrous in the future so we must be terribly careful about how the situation is handled.

I firmly believe that the reason the vote went the way it did was because people were fearful of the migration issue. That was the way it was sold in Great Britain. This is way I would put it because to me, that was not what it was really about. We must be careful to make sure that we only have people here for whom we can cater because we cannot cater for Irish citizens or people from abroad who are on waiting lists for accommodation. We cannot take care of the people who are here. Why would we want to open up for more when we cannot take care of those we already have? If we have our own house in order, we can do whatever we like afterwards.

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