Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It was disappointing that no progress was made in the Brexit negotiations at this month's Council meeting. The lack of progress meant that no date was set for a special summit in November, as had been expected. We are in the final stages of Brexit and it is a crucial time for both the UK and the EU. It was positive to read reports in recent days of a potential new solution to the deadlock, with the EU offering the UK a UK-wide customs arrangement that would potentially be negotiated as a separate international treaty. This would be very welcome from an Irish perspective and go some way towards solving the remaining Irish issue of the Border. However, it does not, as was suggested by the UK Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, Dominic Raab, dispense with the necessity for a legally binding Northern Ireland-specific backstop, which is our insurance policy and still a requirement for a withdrawal treaty. We must stand firm in our rejection of such a notion.

It remains unclear whether Mrs. Theresa May can get any of this through the House of Commons, but we rely on there being a majority in the UK Parliament to prevent a no-deal Brexit scenario. There could still be a situation where the UK negotiating team strikes a deal in Brussels, including a backstop for Northern Ireland, but the Prime Minister, Mrs. May, is unable to get it through the House of Commons. The potential for a hard Brexit is still ever present and we must prepare for it, although we hope that outcome is very unlikely. We regularly hear from the UK that the future trading arrangement to be negotiated will solve all our problems and that a backstop will never be needed. However, if the UK continues to pursue its own trade deals and adopts a different customs regime and potentially different standards and regulations from those of the EU, in the absence of a Northern Ireland-specific backstop our current problems with the Border will persist. We must remain vigilant in these final stages of the negotiation and not get sucked into looking to the further trading relationship between the UK and the EU to resolve the issues pertaining to Ireland because it is quite likely it will not.

There is an unprecedented deal on the table for Northern Ireland, the best of both worlds. With a special economic zone for the North, for which I and my party have advocated for at least two years, Northern Ireland could have access to the EU market and all the benefits associated with membership while still being constitutionally part of the UK and having full access to the UK on that basis. For some reason, however, the DUP cannot or does not wish to see this and is rejecting it. It is extraordinary that it would prefer Northern Ireland to fall off a cliff next March rather than explore this genuine opportunity which would provide real benefits for both communities, farmers, businesses and citizens. Of course, Sinn Féin is nowhere to be seen in the North at a time when it should be advocating strongly for this special deal.

Finally, with regard to our domestic preparedness for whatever type of Brexit occurs, it is accepted that even a soft, orderly Brexit will still be a negative shock for our economy, particularly for the agriculture and agrifood sectors. I am concerned that the take-up of Brexit supports, and the Taoiseach referred to the Brexit loan scheme, has been very low. In fact, as of this month only €8.5 million of the €300 million available has been drawn down. Over 80% of jobs in the agrifood sector are outside Dublin and are sustaining rural communities across the country. There are some 250,000 jobs in that sector. This would be the most strongly affected sector by Brexit and the Government must up its game and ensure it protects this industry. We cannot wait until next March to prepare for Brexit. The Government must do more in terms of getting the farming and business communities ready.

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