David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The point is we are very close to D-Day. This State, and every member state, is planning for a no-deal Brexit. We are being told these are the contingencies. On the other hand, we are also being told that there might be some solutions down the road for the agrifood business and farmers. They have not seen them, however. We have also not seen any bespoke solutions for this State to be able to ease the rules on state aid. Europe needs to do much more to protect the Irish economy. I am not just referring to the backstop but the Irish economy as a whole.

We welcome the publication of this Bill. We will work with the Government and the Tánaiste to get this Bill passed as quickly as possible. The nine spokespeople for Sinn Féin, in respect of the relevant Departments, are working on amendments and supporting the sections of the Bill that we can. We will not delay the passage of this Bill. We will support it as best we can to make sure it goes through as quickly as possible. We are sincere, however, when we say that it does not go far enough in many areas. It is underwhelming regarding practical supports for the vulnerable sectors of the Irish economy. Much more needs to be done to ensure more supports are provided, no matter what form Brexit takes, whether hard or soft. Those supports are not in this Bill, unfortunately.

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