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

Article 50 has finally been triggered and we have since had Prime Minister, Theresa May's letter to President Tusk. The draft Brexit negotiating guidelines have been published by the European Council President and the European Parliament has published its response on the issue. The Taoiseach informed the House today that the Government will publish a consolidated policy paper for the negotiations, and it is important that the Dáil would debate that paper.

In general, the documents are not as encouraging as they first appeared as they only address one element of a much larger challenge for this country. It is disappointing that the special circumstances of Northern Ireland have not been properly acknowledged. Fianna Fáil calls on the Government to go back to President Tusk to seek the inclusion of a specific reference in the negotiating mandate to the fact the EU is conscious of the continued citizenship rights of Northern Ireland residents and will seek to underpin them in any exit treaties. Fianna Fáil also believes that a form of special status for Northern Ireland and the Border region remains possible. The deep interlinking of social, economic and cultural ties is unique across any border in Europe and it would be absurd and damaging if basic supply routes across short distances were to be undermined.

The draft proposals will be finalised at the EU summit to be held on 29 April. From Ireland's point of view, we should press for the separation negotiations and the future relationship negotiations to take place in parallel, as far as is practicable, to avoid damaging uncertainty for Irish businesses and Irish citizens generally. Preliminary discussions on the future relationship, including trade, must start as soon as possible once the separation talks are making progress. That is the view of the UK Government as well.

I wish to raise the position of Gibraltar. The guidelines indicate that Spain has obtained a commitment to an effective veto regarding negotiations on Gibraltar. Why has the Irish Government failed to secure a similar veto for Ireland on any deal for Northern Ireland? Northern Ireland has a much stronger case in the scale of things. Was such a veto sought by Ireland? Any future deals with the UK will be decided by qualified majority voting and that must be of concern to us. We need clarification from the Minister on that particular issue.

Dublin City Council has prepared a report on the potential challenges and opportunities facing Dublin city following Brexit. That follows the Dublin city Brexit summit. It has been suggested that the capital is not prepared for Brexit and that we will not be able to capitalise on the opportunities that may arise. Concerns have been expressed about pre-existing capacity and infrastructure deficits. In particular, we must examine if our transport infrastructure, office accommodation, education facilities and social amenities can cope with new employees arriving here to take up employment in financial services, for example, not to mention our lack of housing supply and overpriced accommodation. Increased investment is required in housing, transport and hotel and office space, and that must be provided by both central and local government.

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs visited Brussels in February where we met the Minister of State, Deputy Dara Murphy. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae has given a very comprehensive report of the visit, which I found to be very useful and informative.

While there, we met Michel Barnier, the chief negotiator for the European Commission, Guy Verhofstadt, MEP, the European Parliament's representative on Brexit, Commissioner Phil Hogan, Declan Kelleher, Ireland's permanent representative to the EU, who is doing an excellent job over there. We also met many other MEPs from various countries. There is a clear understanding in Europe of the challenges faced by Ireland arising from Brexit and sympathy for the position in which we now find ourselves. However, the clear view expressed by everyone we met was that we have a crucial role to play in bringing forward creative solutions to the problems we will experience as a result of Brexit. So far, no practical solutions have been put on the table by anyone, which is a real worry.

The other matter of note is that there is huge interest in the ramifications for the Northern Ireland peace process. There are real concerns that Brexit will be bad for that process. The EU is proud of the role it has played in promoting the Northern Ireland peace process and it does not want to do anything which might damage that.

Every effort should be made to attract the European Medicines Agency to Ireland. I understand it employes up to 800 people. When members of the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs visited Brussels in February we were told that 20 countries were interested, but that only 15 of those bids were serious. At the end of the day, only six to eight of the bids will be credible. How stand our efforts to attract this agency to Ireland at this stage? What is our position regarding the European Banking Authority? Is there a possibility that this body could relocate here and what is being done in that regard?

It is important for Ireland to be clear about the consequences of Brexit for each sector of our economy. I was pleased to hear the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport outlining earlier what is being done in his Department in this regard. Other sectors affected include food and drink, fisheries, seafood, exports in the Border region, financial services, health, tourism, aviation, transport and haulage, as well as crime and policing issues. By now each Government Department and State agency must be fully apprised of the issues of concern for these sectors, and are bringing forward policy solutions which can also feed into the negotiating process.

Fianna Fáil strongly believes that we need a Minister with responsibility for Brexit. There is political uncertainty at present and there is speculation about changes in Government personnel. There is also speculation about a Cabinet reshuffle in the coming weeks, although time will tell. I am not sure, however, that the Taoiseach is in the best position to co-ordinate Ireland's response to Brexit. He obviously has an important role to play but, for example, he was in Washington for several days during the St. Patrick's Day festivities. In view of the speculation over political uncertainty in the coming weeks, one wonders whether it would not be better to have a full Cabinet Minister for Brexit based in Government Buildings co-ordinating efforts on this matter. I know the Government does not agree with this and that Fianna Fáil keeps harping on about it, but I am obliged to do so. I am of the view that we need a designated Minister for Brexit.

When members of the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs visited Brussels, we stressed that Ireland remains a fully committed member of the EU. We appreciate that the EU faces many problems at this time apart from Brexit. We are fully prepared to play our role in tackling the problems facing the EU as a whole, including the democratic deficit and the need to resell the European project to a new generation of Europeans. It must be pointed out that the EU is responsible for an unprecedented period of peace, prosperity and progress in Europe. Ireland will play its full role in that regard.

There is a lot of work to be done and the next issue is the forthcoming European Council summit. I wonder if there will be changes to the guidelines if member states are pressing for them. Perhaps the Minister could deal with that point in his response. Ireland should certainly be pressing for some more changes before the draft guidelines are finalised.

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