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

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this matter. For those of us who live in rural Ireland, the deal that is ultimately reached will be vital. From speaking to the news addicts around the country who watch "Six One" or the news at 9 p.m., I have noticed that they are getting tired of hearing day in, day out - like a boat rocking on the sea - about something happening with Brexit today and something different happening tomorrow. It is like taking one step forward and two steps back. People are fatigued listening to this debate. It seems to be playing out in the open. It is like two boxers who talk about beating each other up before their fight begins, but the real horse trading has to start when they knuckle down.

Sometimes, I listen to comments from both sides - not just one side - that I would class as unhelpful. One side claims that the other does not seem to have an idea about what it is doing and the other side throws the same snowball back. While all of that might be down to tactics and trying to get the upper hand, people are getting fed up with it. That is not a good thing in light of the fact that Brexit is of the utmost importance to our people and our country.

In fairness, the Government has been involved in talks behind the scenes. That is welcome. Mr. Guy Verhofstadt, who spoke in the Dáil Chamber last week, went to Monaghan to see the Border where cows were eating grass. When he referred to how he stood with one foot in Northern Ireland and the other in the South, he asked how the cow would know. The cow would not know for sure.

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