Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday's vote in the British House of Commons is serious and grave and creates real uncertainty and anxiety. No clear or coherent view has yet emerged from the British political system of the type of Brexit that would command a majority of British parliamentarians. In our context we know a no-deal Brexit would be very damaging to the Irish economy, to the UK economy and to Europe as well. That is why we must double down in our efforts to be ready and prepare comprehensively for a no-deal Brexit.

In Ireland the Fianna Fáil Party's decision to continue with the confidence and supply agreement has spared us the mayhem, instability and uncertainty that is evident from the British system, which would have flowed if a general election had been precipitated here.

When it comes to Brexit the Government must be honest with the Oireachtas and the people. It needs to be honest about the potential impact of a no-deal Brexit on our politics, economic potential and social well-being. The Government needs to be honest about all the preparations currently under way concerning a no-deal Brexit. It should share all of its analysis in areas such as pensions and social protection, for example. It should publish its analysis of the implications of a no-deal Brexit on our budgetary projections on revenue and expenditure.

Yesterday's exchange between the Tánaiste and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport are deeply worrying because it suggests the public are not being told the full truth for party political reasons. I get the same sense at times with the Government not revealing the full details of its plans for a no-deal Brexit. As the Taoiseach knows, the Minister, Deputy Ross, replying to a question about whether there would be checks on a truck travelling from Scotland to Larne and proceeding to the Republic, said, "I would anticipate that there would be checks." In reply, the Tánaiste said:

Yes, but we can’t get into where they’ll be at this stage. They could be in the sea, they could be... But once you start talking about checks anywhere near the Border, people will start delving into that and all of a sudden we’ll be the Government that reintroduced a physical border on the island of Ireland.

To that, the Minister, Deputy Ross, said, “Yeah, but I didn’t know what to say.” Clearly he did not do his homework.

This obviously was a conversation that was never meant to be public; the microphones were still on. However, it seems there is a private understanding and knowledge within Government about a border in the aftermath of a no-deal Brexit but at all costs that private understanding must not be shared with the public. Is that not a fair conclusion to be drawn from the exchange between the two Ministers? It is like the episode from Fawlty Towers, "Whatever you do, don't mention the war", but somebody forgot to tell the Minister, Deputy Ross. Who is telling the truth here? Were Ministers told not to mention the possibility of some checks being done or in place in the event of a no-deal Brexit? Is it the Government's position that border checks could be at the sea? How realistic is such a proposition anyway?

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