Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach is leaving the Chamber as I speak but I want to compliment him for once. He is doing such a good job that he might not stand down at all.

I note that on 29 April the European Council issued its guidelines following the United Kingdom's notification under Article 50 to withdraw from the Union. The guidelines rightly note that European integration has brought peace to Europe and allowed for an unprecedented level and scope of cooperation on matters of common interest in a rapidly changing world. It also says that the Union's overall objective in the forthcoming negotiations will be to preserve its interests, those of its citizens, its businesses and its member states.

I am certainly heartened to hear that those at the top of the European Union intend to put the interests of citizens first. That will definitely be a first. It is this kind of language that we have become unaccustomed to of late. We hear and have heard much about the importance of maintaining economic stability and of how important institutions like the so-called pillar banks are. It seems, however, that less and less time has been devoted to talking about the real interests of real citizens in each of the member states. I am talking about families in Ireland who we are elected to represent.

However, the distance between the institutions of Europe and the people they are supposed to represent is a well-worn theme at this point. That is why we have had Brexit, and why we can see something strange happening in France and in other places. Needless to say it contributed significantly to the Brexit vote, and might contribute to a Frexit if the French people choose to put their faith in Madame Marine le Pen. We will see how that vote turns out shortly. For the moment the fortunes of Mr. Macron seem good, and it looks likely that he will ascend to the French presidency and bring about some kind of stability. That is certainly what he would have us believe at any rate.

To return to the recent Council statements on Brexit and the triggering of Article 50, I am deeply concerned that part of the statement issued by the Council is that, "The United Kingdom's decision to leave the Union creates significant uncertainties that have the potential to cause disruption, in particular in the United Kingdom but also, to a lesser extent, in other member states". The word potential is used - it might happen or it might not happen. What on earth are these people talking about? This is an utterly bizarre statement to make, and seems to give the lie to the belief that those in the EU top brass have a clear sense of the impact of Brexit. Either they do not have it or they want to cod us all and let us eat cake. Who said that?

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