Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am sorry the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, has left the Chamber. He was praised earlier this morning when I had a meeting with the junior minister of foreign affairs from Italy, the equivalent of the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, along with the Italian ambassador. Senator Paul Coghlan was also there representing the Seanad. We had a very productive meeting. They were very complimentary of the work being done by the Minister, Deputy Coveney. I wish him well in his work.

It is very important to bring in the big issue of Brexit. I cannot emphasise enough the problems and difficulties Ireland is going to have. The budget today is what it is, but Brexit is really the elephant in the room. It is going to impact on all our lives whether people are in farming, tourism, self-employment or working in a factory. Brexit will have so much of an effect even on experienced politicians. Many Members in the House have been here much longer than I. I respect experience and bow down to it all the time but even Members who have been here for many decades cannot imagine the problems Ireland is going to have.

I want to say to the Ministers and Ministers of State in the Chamber, and to the Minister, Deputy Naughten, in his absence, to do what they can to tackle the post office issue. We can save a lot of post offices but we must put our shoulders to the wheel. I do not say this argumentatively, I say it positively. I will back them all the way in the world if they just do something to help us to get to where we need to be, which is providing more services through the post office network.

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