Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this debate. The Europe we joined years ago - many people were in favour of it - was the European Economic Community, EEC. A community in anybody's eyes is a good thing. However, over the years it has changed considerably, some of it good, but an awful lot of it has intruded on the lives of people in different countries. People wonder why the Brits voted to get out. They did so because the ordinary person on the ground is fed up with the rules, regulations and red tape that come from Europe.

It is good that Northern Ireland has been recognised in the document we have seen in the past week on the negotiating position. It is vital that the peace process is kept going. However, we were found wanting in one area. Spain operated like a super-sub coming on at the end to win the game. It jumped in at the last minute and got a veto on Gibraltar, which was a masterstroke. Regardless of what position papers are in place at the moment, if we believe in democracy, the Irish people in one of the most important decisions of our lives deserve a referendum on this. If this goes pear-shaped, it will have serious consequences for us.

I am concerned that if there is no agreement, we will end up with a hard border. Britain can relax regulations, red tape and all that, and it will put British businesses at an advantage compared with Irish businesses. Not having an agreement would have massive consequences for the beef, dairy industry and sheep industries in this country. To put it bluntly, Britain needs our food and we need the British to buy it. If we end up with a hard border, farming in Ireland will be demolished. Ireland will have to face hard questions. Everybody knows London is no more than one day away from a shortage of food and Britain is a net importer of agricultural products. Agriculture is vital to people throughout this country.

The movement of people over and back has to be recognised irrespective of whether the Europeans like it. The British have talked about this. We should look at Gibraltar, Jersey and northern Cyprus. There can be one section of a country - let us say for the sake of argument Northern Ireland - that does not have to be in the European Union and it should be allowed to trade. This is bread-and-butter stuff for us. Many Irish people, especially those from the west of Ireland where I come from, went to Britain and got good work. They have come home and set up in Ireland after a while. Tourism is also ferociously important to this country.

We are like the hurler on the ditch; we are watching the game but we do not know who is playing. There is a guy called Barnier on one side of the table. The talk at the moment is lovely. Everyone is talking about the Border and everyone is talking about Ireland. However, at the end of the day, they will think about the 27. The Taoiseach should go out there and announce to them that we will hold a referendum on this decision even if it puts their noses out of joint. I think the Irish people should have a referendum. If a hard border comes about and we lose the free travel area, and if there are tariffs on our produce, then we are entitled on a referendum to decide what we will do as a nation. We cannot afford to lose the 40% of our agricultural exports that go to Britain. I urge the Taoiseach to do this in the interests of democracy. Europeans might have a lot of unelected representatives doing things for them, but if we believe in democracy, we will give that opportunity to our people.

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