Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to get an opportunity to talk about this important Bill. Among every section of every community in Ireland, nothing gives rise to concern as much as Brexit, which now has been talked about for almost two years. The various groups affected are so concerned. These include farmers, the self-employed and small companies exporting to the North and to Britain.

The one issue that does not seem to be mentioned in the Bill, which has been highlighted by other speakers, is the hard border and how it will be managed. I agree with others that if Britain wants to leave the EU and maintain a border between the North and the South, that is a matter for Prime Minister May and the European Union to sort out. We cannot interfere or be a part of anything that would break up the Good Friday Agreement, into which so much effort was put by past leaders, Ministers for Foreign Affairs and everyone who was involved from all sides. Sinn Féin, the unionists, including the DUP and, in our country, former taoisigh, Albert Reynolds, Garret FitzGerald and Bertie Ahern, played their parts. All the leaders along the way put in hard work and we cannot ever again allow the divisiveness that obtained in our country for almost 30 years. We do not want that back and we cannot wish that upon our people, south or north of the border. We condemn and abhor much of what happened for that time, the wrongs that were done, and we do not want to go back to that.

There are small things which can be very big things. I am being asked questions about driving licences and that issue needs to be explained. Will an Irish licence be recognised in Northern Ireland or Great Britain? What about lorry drivers? It will be the same for people coming to this country with an English driving licence. Will it work vice versa? Will UK licences be recognised here? Surely things like that can be sorted out and common sense will apply to ensure that drivers will be able to continue as they have been. If a driver is good enough to drive in Ireland or the UK, the licence he or she obtained should be sufficient to allow him or her to drive in either country.

I am glad that this week, at last, Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Labour Party, has indicated that, with conditions, he would be in favour of having a second referendum. We spoke about it in this House when news of the referendum result broke and I believe I was the first person to ask the then Taoiseach Enda Kenny to ask the UK Government to have another referendum. I hope that will happen. Many people, all along, have been asking and hoping that would happen. The people of Great Britain and Northern Ireland should be well informed before they cast their votes a second time. It is clear that they were not advised of all the pros and cons when they went to the polls the first time and of the adverse effects it could have for their country and other countries, especially ours.

The backstop is important. I hope, if the UK decides to leave on 29 March, that the backstop is part of whatever deal will be agreed by the UK Government and Parliament. Maybe they will delay the UK's exit further and eventually save the day with another referendum.

It has been mentioned that Irish farmers will get a package from Europe. Farmers are in a critical state now, especially beef farmers. Prices are very bad. Farmers have sheds of cattle and they are afraid of what will become of them. They are feeding and caring for them like they always have. The farming community comprises a wonderful set of people, especially the farmers I represent in Kerry. They are very concerned at the moment. There have been beef plan meetings in Castleisland, Kenmare, Dingle and Listowel. There are more planned in Dingle and Cahirciveen and there will be one in Listowel next Monday, 4 March. The price of cattle is the issue that is exercising their minds and they are concerned.

I was at one of those meetings last night. We were told about what happened to a Libyan cattle buyer who wanted to buy 4,000 bulls in this country. I do not know if the Tánaiste is aware that there is a complete slowdown in taking bull beef from the farmers. To get a call from a factory that will take a few cattle from a farmer is like winning something big in the lotto. Farmers need contacts and the way the factories are operating at the moment is not fair. A few years ago, farmers were advised to go into bull beef, to deviate away from bullocks, but now nobody wants to take the bull beef. There has been a complete slowdown. A Libyan purchaser wanted to come here to buy 4,000 cattle worth €5 million. The Tánaiste is the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. This Libyan man applied for a visa in mid-November to be allowed to come to see the cattle. The boat and buyers were organised but he wanted to come and see what he was getting. Lo and behold, he still has not been told what is wrong or if he will get a visa. I am afraid that the cows carrying calves at the time he applied will calve again before he gets an answer to his visa request. It is ridiculous that this has happened. We have been asking the Government day after day on the Order of Business to ensure that our country will have other live export options around the world. This has happened to our farmers under our noses who work so hard, from dark to dark, to try and produce top quality beef and there is then no outlet for them to sell it. It is ridiculous.

This Libyan man has now indicated that he is not interested in Ireland and he has gone to Spain. It is appalling that we have lost that volume of bull beef exports. It seems that he applied to the Department of Justice and Equality for a visa. No one has come back to him.

Neither has anyone said they are looking for anything. The galling point about it is that the man was in this country several times before. There could not be much wrong but it is like somebody was not paying attention. It looked as if other Deputies made representations to the Minister for Justice and Equality on his behalf. However, sadly, nothing has happened and this is where we currently stand.

We know there is a large beef market in Iran but it seems this has not been explored by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Farmers at these beef plan group meetings have asked about these markets. The group which has set up the beef plan has said it is trying to secure markets abroad. It is, however, up to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to do so. While he may have been castigated for different reasons, we remember when the former Taoiseach, Charlie Haughey, went out to meet the then Libyan leader, Gaddafi, and secured markets when agriculture was on its knees before. The Government should not be beyond that. Ministers should be able to do that as well. There are now more ways to travel to new markets, as well as dealing with matters through email. I cannot understand how we have lost an export market like the one in question.

It is a fact the majority of our beef exports go to the UK. The UK has already put pressure on us by suggesting it will allow in beef imports from South America. Likewise, Italy and Germany are exploring how to allow South American beef imports into their countries in return for allowing them to sell cars to South American countries. These matters are concerning for our farmers.

We do not have enough lairage in Cherbourg. It is not France's responsibility to provide lairage for dairy-bred calves but that of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Bord Bia for export on to markets like Holland. We cannot get them there because we need extra lairage in Cherbourg. Will the Minister team up with the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Minister for Justice and Equality, to ensure these export markets continue to protect our agricultural industry?

What travel arrangements are being made if Britain leaves? Will Britain still be the main landbridge between Ireland and the Continent? What problems will arise with the transport of animals? Can we avoid going through the UK as much as possible because there will be tariffs? People are asking these questions. I am appealing to the Minister to ensure the proper arrangements are in place to deal with these matters. Time is getting scarce.

Fishermen are also concerned. They find it hard enough to survive with the elements and bad weather. Will the Minister explain how much of a package we will get from Europe to assist our farmers and fishermen?

The cross-border health directive has been vital for many people in Kerry and west Cork. Through it, Deputy Michael Collins and I have taken 25 buses of people to the North of Ireland to get operations to remove cataracts, get hip or knee replacements, as well as for children to have their tonsils removed. Are we sure this will continue if Britain leaves the European Union? We have great admiration for these people who have taken it upon themselves to travel this long journey for an operation. It takes seven hours to travel from Kerry to Belfast. One 96 year old man saw it as either going to Belfast or going blind. One has to admire them for going in the dark of the morning and not coming back until late the following night.

We need to assure people that medicines will be available. There is much concern that there may be shortages of different kinds of food such as flour. I was told often by my grandmother that there was a scarcity of flour after the Second World War. She would tell how glad she used to be to get a ten stone bag of flour that she would carry home over 350 yards on her back from where it was dropped off on the road with just one stop. When I hear talk about scarcities of flour, I think of her and what she went through at the time.

The free travel scheme facilitates people to travel North to visit relations and friends and likewise for people coming down from the North. It is hoped this will continue. We depend on tourists from the UK. Many of them come year after year. They have always been appreciated and recognised as good spenders. We hope that, if there is a hard Brexit, they will still be facilitated. Any drop in visitors from Great Britain would hit hard many of the small bed and breakfasts, as well as family run and large hotels, which provide such great facilities. These businesses provide many jobs in the Ring of Kerry, the great town of Killarney, Tralee, north Kerry and even in the heart of south Kerry in places like Valentia. These places appreciate the visitors from the UK, as well as those who come through the UK to visit our county.

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