Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. Brexit affects every aspect of people's lives on the island of Ireland, North and South. The decision taken by the people of the UK by way of a referendum has the potential to have a major negative impact on this country, some of which has already been felt.

However, I am not as pessimistic as many seem to be. There are opportunities. Contrary to what some say, the Irish Government has adopted the correct attitude. It has maintained its position on retaining the status quoand included the island of Ireland in its submissions. The EU has responded positively and recognised the need for the island of Ireland to proceed within the customs union, the Single Market and the common travel area.

All this will undoubtedly be difficult. It is a new ball game and a challenge to everyone, but it comes down to the extent to which the British Government is prepared to negotiate. It initiated its departure - it had that right - but it must consequently negotiate its exit. At the beginning, it was stated that no agreement would be better than a bad one, but I am not so sure about that. Our part of the EU will need to trade with the UK, and it would be much better were Ireland to trade as a single entity. Again, it comes down to the extent to which the British Government will agree to that, but it is not impossible. This approach can be catered for, either within existing arrangements or if changes in structures are needed.

Similarly, the UK needs to trade with the EU after Brexit. It cannot do all its trade with far-flung regions around the globe, even if that means cheaper imports. Again, that issue is down to the UK Government.

One of the problems is that the people of the UK were told before the referendum about the massive savings that would accrue as a result of exiting the EU. Of course, those savings were never quantified or backed up. The facts did not emerge until afterwards. It is sad to say that people and, in particular, the British Government have suddenly recognised that much of that talk was chatter, something that was grasped by some at the time to sell what they were selling because they wanted out of the Union. We must not forget that the decision was not made by a landslide majority or that Northern Ireland did not acquiesce in going the same route. Neither did Scotland.

All credit is due to the Irish Government. In the early stages, the previous Taoiseach nailed down the territory on which we would negotiate, that being retaining the status quoand everything that entailed. That is still the case. To be fair to all sides of the House, the Opposition has generally been supportive of that concept because it is the only show in town.

The new Taoiseach has continued solidly and constructively in the same vein. This has been critical to the debate. If any chink appears in the armour, if any weakness shows at all, negotiators will see it.

People say that we should accelerate the negotiations, but that is for the UK Government. It exited; it made the decision. It is not for the rest of us to compromise our position.

I agree with the number of Deputies who made the point that this country should not be used as a Trojan horse. It is important for both parts of the island of Ireland that we speak, operate and negotiate as one and that we leave no one behind. It is equally important that we speak as members of the EU. While many aspects of Europe need to be changed, improved and so on, the Europe we have had in recent years has been immeasurably better than anything that in the previous 100 years. That would not be difficult to guess.

We need the resolve to see this out and get the best of what we had before. Prior to Brexit, we could have sought improvements, so there is no reason in the wide earthly world that we could not continue doing so in the interests of the island of Ireland.

The politicians and public in Northern Ireland are good, hard-headed business people. They may have political difficulties from time to time, but they know what is in their interests as well as ours. They know the degree to which we must co-operate to do what is necessary to get over this difficulty.

Guy Verhofstadt, Michel Barnier and all the other Europeans we have met in recent times have been very reassuring and have shown a very clear knowledge of the situation in this country with regard to the Border between Northern Ireland and southern Ireland. They have reiterated at every opportunity their view that they understand our situation, that it is in the European Union's interest to retain the status quo, that it is in the interest of this part of the European Union, as it was, to retain the status quoand that it is in the interest of the future development of Europe that we stand over what we say and that we do not blink.

I will conclude by saying a certain amount of poker playing is going on. There always is in any negotiation that takes place, particularly in situations like this. We have to show that we have the prowess and ability to play the game of poker as well as anybody else. We have a lot to play for and we have a lot to lose if we blink. We should not blink. We should be reassured of the strength of our case and be convincing to ourselves, but more especially to our colleagues across the Irish Sea with the support and co-operation of our European Union colleagues.

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