Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I think we all need to calm down a bit. Brexit will have major implications for the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the all-island economy. It has major consequences also for the peace process and, in particular, the Good Friday Agreement. These implications will have to be teased out as the negotiations continue. It is vital that the institutions in Northern Ireland be established as soon as possible.

There is a Conservative Government in the UK. Conservative Governments traditionally do not have much time for devolved administrations. It is therefore really important that the Irish Government be proactive on this issue and actively engage with the British Prime Minister, the British Government and the Secretary of State to ensure that agreement is reached on time. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in particular have to be proactive on this, given the circumstances. The whole peace process is fragile and could unravel very easily.

As regards the all-island economy and the promotion of tourism and the economic development on this island generally, the free travel scheme was announced on this day 50 years ago. It was a simple measure but it had a profound impact. As I am on my feet, I ask the Taoiseach to give an assurance that the Government has no plans to restrict its use or to scrap the scheme altogether. All of us will agree that it was a revolutionary measure with a profound impact, particularly for the elderly and the disabled.

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