Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his answer. Everybody who attended the all-Ireland civic dialogue was aware of the absence of the Unionists, from both the DUP and the UUP. It was also clear that if we are to have a consensus approach it is important that their input is facilitated in whatever way we need to devise to ensure they are comfortable to bring those influences into a dialogue or a discussion. The Taoiseach has had discussions with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on the best way to do that to ensure we have a joined-up approach to dealing with issues. Everyone has outlined a myriad of issues, but the single biggest issue is trade. I am struck by the blind optimism that I hear from every British voice about the inevitability of a trade deal, although they have an embargo, if one likes, on the notion of the free movement of people. I believe this is blindly optimistic and it will have detrimental effects on this island.

During a recent trip by the British Prime Minister to India to do a trade deal, the Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Modi, linked access of Indian workers and students as part of trade. It was suggested by The Observerthat the post-Brexit India-UK trade deal has now suffered a hammer blow. The more dialogue the United Kingdom has with other third countries the more it will find that it is not so easy to deal with trade issues. We need to have our view as to how we can secure our linkages into the British market. That means having a joined-up view from the island of Ireland, meaning we need to work out how to get the DUP and the UUP involved.

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