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

That is fine.

I thank Sinn Féin for initiating this important debate. It is timely. Although there is a great deal of political crisis occurring in the Dáil, the free movement of our trade and citizens following Brexit are important issues. Last week, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs went to Brussels where we had 14 meetings over a two-day period. We met people like Mr. Michel Barnier, the chief negotiator, and Mr. Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament's lead negotiator on Brexit.

I will address a point to Sinn Féin Members, given that they know so much about Northern Ireland affairs and what is happening. In the past, Mr. Barnier visited the North and met leading members of Sinn Féin and people from all the various sectors. He has a great grasp of what exists between Northern Ireland and the South. He knows the peace process intimately. He knows how important it is for us not to have a hard border. Having spoken to him, I am more confident that his finger is on the pulse and that he knows how important it is to us that we get through this. Otherwise, Ireland will be adversely affected, which none of us wants. Since we are in a unique situation, we must negotiate, we need political leadership and we all must work off of the same page. Having had those meetings, I am more confident that we are at least dealing with negotiators who know the situation on the ground. I welcome this debate and thank Sinn Féin for initiating it.

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