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

I thank the Ceann Comhairle, the Minister of State and colleagues for allowing us say a few words on this important issue. We should not panic. We need to be absolutely assured that the EU is conducting its negotiations in the proper fashion because the EU's future is at stake. The bottom line is that if this goes wrong, and it will not, the entire European Union will crumble within five or seven years. We should recognise that.

The UK authorities know full well that this was not about a minor border issue or anything else. This is a wider issue that they have in mind. They have spoken about the benefits of bilateral arrangements. We all know that the small country comes off worst in such bilateral arrangements. That has always been the case. People will want to go back to the good old days, and perhaps they are deluding themselves, but there is another issue. We want to be careful not to assume that we are losing ground because we cannot lose ground. The European Union negotiators have in their sights what is needed, and they know what is needed. They know that to move one iota from that will result in a serious problem not only for this country, the island of Ireland and the peace agreement but for the EU itself. It will be only a matter of time before various other countries decide to pick away at the bricks and eventually we will have nothing. However, that will not happen, nor should it happen.

I will give examples to support that theory. For the past 20 years on this island of Ireland we have had a single market and no Border. We have not had friction of any description and we have worked well together as an island community. It is essential that we continue in that vein. It is essential that our Government represents the views of both sides of the community in Northern Ireland, including the commercial side, the business sector and the agricultural sector. That is of huge importance to both communities on this island.

We hear rumours every day about negotiations being dragged out over a number of years. That will not happen because it cannot happen. If it were to happen we would have a gradual erosion, which would eventually end up whichever way the UK authorities want it to happen in the end.

Regarding the question of contingency plans to make preparations in the event of something happening, we need to be very careful about those things. The UK authorities would like to see border posts put in place just in case. However, they would then become a reality. They would like to see various provisions made now in the event of something happening. That would then become the agreement at a later stage and we would not be able to renegotiate it.

I congratulate the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Government and the members of the Opposition on the level of solidarity they have shown in respect of this issue. It is an imperative to which we must adhere. It is important for this country, North and South, it is important for the European Union and it is important for this Parliament.

I will conclude by saying this: we need to proceed as we are doing and continue from where we started. We need to ensure that the European Union continues on its current path. I congratulate Mr. Michel Barnier and his fellow negotiators on the level of knowledge they have shown so far and on the interest they have taken in this island nation. Of course, they realise full well the nature of the ultimate objective.

The Good Friday Agreement is the finest agreement ever achieved on this island, economically, politically and socially. The EU is the biggest single peace agreement that the Continent of Europe has experienced in 1,000 years. We should never forget that. We are intrinsically linked to the European Union and its future. If the UK decides it wants to go away from that and become a third country, an international power like in the old days, that is fine. However, the rules must apply. There are rules that are not helpful to third countries. We know that and the British know it too. I will simply say that there are people in the UK who have campaigned vigorously over the past 20 years to undermine the European Union. I refer to Nigel Farage and others. Some people who are totally opposed to the European Union have got to positions of power and authority in the UK. We hope they realise that what they are doing is not in the interests of either the UK or Europe.

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