Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Let us leave the condescension at the door. I think we are all being calm, but it is prudent and reasonable for an Opposition party to ask the Government what planning is being engaged in and to ask for details. The quotes I gave from Mr. McKeever were his own words. They are not mine. The Minister says he is talking, but is he listening? I gave figures which the Government provided for the take-up of Brexit supports. They are very low. That is a fact, not opinion. I appreciate that we all want the deal to go through, but it is reasonable to ask what is plan B. Other member states are releasing details of their contingency planning, as is the United Kingdom. We ask that it be done here too and that the Minister inform the House and citizens of the details of preparations and planning. Last week in the Chamber the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, outlined that her Department had been working for almost a year to ascertain what we needed to do to maintain reciprocal arrangements under individual schemes between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic. Even though it has been happening for the last year, the details of the outcome of this analysis are not available. The Minister and the Government have the information, but they are not providing it for the rest of the House. That is why we are asking the questions. I acknowledge that it is difficult to be fully prepared for all scenarios, but it is reasonable to ask and it is not in the interests of ramping up pressure or creating difficulties. I would not be doing my job if I did not ask the questions.

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