Dáil debates

Thursday, 13 April 2017

3:50 pm

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Smith for raising this matter. I remember very clearly the way in which he raised it at the Good Friday Agreement implementation committee where we had a discussion on it. Regarding our present position, in the capital plan, which Deputy Martin raised with me just a moment ago, we have laid out very clearly that a factor in decisions we will make is the effect that Brexit will have on our country and, within all that, what the regional consequences of Brexit will be. I am well aware of the issues to which the Deputy has referred. I am well aware that the communities to which he refers will feel the brunt of any disruption that may occur as a result of Brexit.

In the capital investment choices we will make in the coming years I am determined to do what I can to offer support through capital investment and other funding choices to ensure the issues to which the Deputy refers are addressed.

The situation will be very challenging and demanding. The issues relating to the nature of a border and the need to make sure we do not return to a hard border have been well recognised in the various texts that have been issued by the European Council, the European Parliament and Prime Minister May, all of which is being driven by the Government's recognition of the scale of the challenge the country faces, in particular the Border counties and communities.

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