Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important topic this evening. Brexit will have many implications for Ireland, some of which we can predict and others we cannot. One thing that is sure is that there will be many challenges ahead for Ireland and it is vital that during the Brexit negotiations we steer through these waters with a clear vision of what Brexit will mean to Ireland.

We need to pay particular attention to the agricultural sector. Ireland is greatly dependent on it and exports almost 70% of its agricultural produce to Britain. It is vital that during the Brexit negotiations our agricultural produce being exported to Britain are protected. Britain is a very serious market for Irish agriculture, especially for dairy and beef produce. For export markets we need to maintain strong competitive transport links with the rest of the EU in order to secure Ireland's economic future. Some two thirds of Irish exporters use the UK landbridge to access Europe. Brexit will have a huge effect on Ireland's ability to use this route for exports. We need to look now at negotiating transports routes. Coming from west Cork, I know only too well how important our ports are to us and to the export economy. My own constituency has ports such as Bantry Bay, Castletownbere and Kinsale, and their futures need to be secured. I plead with this Government to support these ports through the uncertain times ahead with Brexit on the horizon.

The Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, needs to be protected post-Brexit. We need to look at this and put provisions in place. Our fishermen have suffered very difficult times in recent years. It is vital that we protect their livelihoods. There is serious danger of greater numbers of European boats fishing in Irish waters after Brexit. We need to protect our waters and our fishermen.

The cross-border directive is very important for the people of Ireland. To date, we have sent 14 buses from Cork and Kerry to Belfast with people who have availed of cataract procedures through the cross-border directive. These people could have waited for anything up to five years if they could not have availed of this directive. During the negotiations, we must ensure that our cross-border directive is protected with Northern Ireland and Britain. This also includes agreement for cancer patients travelling from Donegal to Derry and small children travelling from Northern Ireland to Dublin for operations. There are many agreements that must be protected for the future.

Upset constituents have approached me. They fear for their uncertain futures and those of Irish citizens living in the UK. One case is of an Irish citizen living in the UK who married in Ireland almost ten years ago. They lived in Ireland for a year afterwards with their spouse and they now live in the UK. Their spouse is a non-EU citizen who had lived in Ireland for two years prior to their marriage - as well as one year afterwards - but because they had not lived three years reasonable residence out of the last five years, they will not be able to obtain an Irish passport. This family is frightened that they could be split up as a result of Brexit. This needs to be addressed urgently. No Irish citizen living in the UK should have to live with this fear. We must also ensure that there will be freedom of movement between ourselves and our neighbours.

Our negotiations must also deal with what will happen to Irish students studying in UK colleges. Clearly Brexit will have a huge effect on Ireland and we now need to step up to the challenges that lie ahead for our country and put in place the provisions that will deal with these challenges.

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