Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for facilitating all of us. These are really important questions.

As has been mentioned by a number of other speakers, representatives of all parties and groups in this House gathered in Government Buildings last week at the Taoiseach's invitation to discuss the implications of Brexit for the island of Ireland. It was a very useful and constructive meeting and, surprisingly, there was much consensus. There was unanimous agreement that a forum or dialogue between those North and South of the Border to tease out in real terms the implications of Brexit was urgently needed. It was further agreed that the forum should be as broad-ranging and inclusive of all strands of society as was possible.

I am trying to get my head around what has happened since. I read the remarks of Deputy Martin and the Taoiseach's reply to questions at the MacGill Summer School. It seemed to me that he is now in support of the Sinn Féin proposal calling for a Border poll. The Taoiseach's comments yesterday in this House seemed to move back from that, and there was further clarity from Deputy Martin this morning. The suggestion immediately infuriated Unionists in the North, who were already sceptical of the all-Ireland dialogue proposal. It was unnecessary and unhelpful to inject fears about the objective of a forum into this, as it really would be a forum that would be to everybody's benefit on the island of Ireland.

As Deputy Martin indicated, the Good Friday Agreement enshrined consent as the principle on which matters in Northern Ireland relating to constitutionality are to be determined. There is not a majority in the North that would now vote for unification, according to all opinion polls, and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has made it clear there is no intention on behalf of the British Government to call for such a poll. Plainly, it will not happen. It is unfortunate in that context that there is in any way a connection by some between a proposal and a reality. All of us would like to see the day arrive when such a poll would carry in the North. To have any connection in the eyes of Unionists between proper and open dialogue on the impact of Brexit and how we can continue deep and meaningful co-operation on the island of Ireland, and a fast-track to a constitutional poll, would be unhelpful.

I ask the Taoiseach to put things back on track and advance the idea agreed by all parties and groupings in the House in the Sycamore Room in Government Buildings last week to advance the dialogue we spoke about and return to serious thinking about relations that are inclusive, welcoming and not frightening for anybody on the island of Ireland. Perhaps we can then think about preparing to accommodate Unionists in a united Ireland when that becomes a real possibility.

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