Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have read voluminous reports and perspectives on the impact of Brexit on this island, including a report commissioned by the East Border Region Limited, which is a group of six local authorities from North and South led by the two chief executive officers of Down District Council and Louth County Council. There was also a more recent report compiled by Dr. Katy Hayward on behalf of the central Border region. The reason I refer specifically to those two reports is that the people who are spoken to in the reports are the public and community representatives who are at the coalface of not only the problems in Northern Ireland but also those relating to Brexit. There is clear agreement that Ireland and Northern Ireland will be the region of the EU that will be worst affected by Brexit. In fact, one report refers to a potential fall in GDP of between 0.8% and 2.6% below baseline by 2030 due to the disruption of Ireland's close trade, investment, energy, migration and integration links with the UK.

At a time when the Border region and the North of Ireland are set to suffer most, we are all aware of the stalemate that still exists in the North while the North-South Ministerial Council and other intergovernmental bodies remain in limbo. In the same way that the Minister created a voice for people in the South, a proper voice for the North is needed now more than ever. The people of Northern Ireland need Members of this House and others to articulate and express their concerns. In fact, the voices of Scotland and Wales also need to be heard collectively to demonstrate the potential disaster for all of us on the periphery of Europe. Even if there are no physical tariffs or customs, there is still the alignment with EU regulations relating to fresh food produce to contend with.

The White Paper issued today by the British Government outlines what Mrs. Theresa May agreed to at the recent Chequers meeting. That agreement is a soft Brexit path through the creation of a common rule book that will keep the UK in line with the EU Single Market standards on goods. It also includes the establishment of a free trade area for goods, which would avoid friction on the Border. The soft Brexit outlined in the White Paper is not what the hard-line Brexiteers wanted as it would seriously limit the UK's ability to trade with countries that have different or, indeed, substandard rules and regulations. The agrifood sector in particular will be affected, as the UK will not be able to trade with huge markets outside of these regulations. This is the reason for the recent resignation of three senior Ministers from the British Cabinet. It is good news, however, in that it avoids a hard border in Ireland. I cautiously welcome it. This is the first positive step by Britain in the two years of discussion and is a start on a final journey, which I have often referred to as fairy-tale economics.

In the recent report by the Irish Central Border Area Network, ICBAN, which included an online survey of people living in the Border region, people responded that they still were not assured that a hard border could be avoided. Respondents felt that the hard border would mean a step back in the peace process and interference with the Good Friday Agreement, and would be like going back, as they describe it, to the old days of the Troubles. Respect and tolerance of all views is needed now more than ever. Much as I have indicated a desire for a united Ireland, talk of that is not helpful. What we need is a unity of people, not land. We need an agreed Ireland, not an imposed Ireland.

I wish to refer to the paramilitary activity we have seen during this week of 12 July. Not only have we seen the reports other Members have mentioned, but in my county Uzi submachine guns can be obtained and used by dissidents. There were also the pipe bombings last night in Drogheda and more recent issues relating to the drugs trade. In this context, we need to be reminded that while the levels of violence after the Good Friday Agreement have disappeared from our media and televisions, in the past 20 years over 150 people have died as a result of paramilitary violence.

My colleague, Deputy Brendan Smith, will outline further the views of people in the Border region. We must protect the Good Friday Agreement and uphold our beliefs and the beliefs of people in the North who are waiting for us to deliver for them.

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