Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are debating a Bill that will be crucial in the event of a no-deal Brexit. It is crucial that we deal with the issues involved. We received the Bill just last Friday, although there had been some briefings by Ministers to committees before that. In the case of education, the Bill raises more questions than it provides answers. Part 5, which deals with education, simply deals with the issue of student support, which is very important for those in receipt of student support. This year's Estimates provide for a decrease of €2 million in SUSI grants because the thresholds have not been increased, and I am sure there will be further debate about that in the coming weeks. The Bill deals with SUSI grants, which are of great importance and for which it is necessary to make legislative provision. We support that and will ensure it gets through. However, the Bill needs to be subject to scrutiny and I look forward to engaging with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, on Committee Stage. I know he is due to speak later on Second Stage.

As stated, the Bill raises more questions than it provides answers. What about the student who intends to study here who is perhaps a citizen of Ireland coming from the North or from Great Britain, or who is a citizen of the United Kingdom coming from the North or Great Britain? They have no information, no legislation, no guarantees and no entitlements or rights to come here as a student on the same basis as EU students from September 2020 because the Minister has given a guarantee only for the year from September 2019. I cannot for the life of me fathom why this is not part of the legislation. It may be that the movement of students comes under the free movement of people and workers under the European treaties, and this is a European competence. If so, the Government can let us know. However, the Minister has not stated that, so perhaps there are other arrangements in regard to the common travel area.

When I put this to the Minister at the committee, he was extremely evasive. He stated that he would be happy to work with us to deal with the issue. I am certainly happy to work with him but I do not know if the answer to this problem lies with the Opposition, although we will certainly be here to help. We should give a unilateral declaration that UK and Irish students living in the North of Ireland and Britain would be entitled to attend university here on the same basis that they always have been, that is, as EU students, regardless of any reciprocity and regardless of whatever deal happens regarding Brexit. I urge the Minister to explain on Second Stage why he is not able to provide these assurances beyond this September and when he proposes to change that. Fifth year or sixth year students might be considering taking a gap year before attending university in this country, and the same goes for those who may be intending to travel to the North or Britain, although that is not something with which the Dáil can deal. What is the position and what information can we give them? For all the talk of a common travel area and for all the talk of a hard border, as matters stand, a hard border will be in place for any student planning to come here from September 2020 onward. That hard border is already here and it is up to the Department of Education and Skills and the Minister to tell us why they are not being treated as EU students from that point. These are our fellow citizens, our fellow inhabitants of this island and of Great Britain. Quite simply, they are being put in a terrible position because of Brexit and while that is not the Government's fault, it could do more to address their particular problems.

A range of other education issues are not addressed in the Bill. The only purpose of the Bill seems to be to deal with the issues with which the Government can deal. The British Irish Chamber of Commerce put forward a number of suggestions last year along the lines of what I have just proposed in respect of education, particularly third-level education and EU fees. While I go further and suggest that we should not wait for reciprocity, the British Irish Chamber of Commerce basically agrees with my position. It also stated that we should support the UK's continued participation in the European research agency, which I suppose is a matter for the exit negotiations. There is also the whole issue of professional qualifications between the EU and the UK, and the recognition of teacher qualifications is another thing that is not addressed in this legislation in the context of a no-deal Brexit.

The British Irish Chamber of Commerce called for special status for the education area of the island of Ireland. This is important. There are students who are cross the Border for their primary and second level education and while this affects a limited number of pupils, it is happening. I would like the Minister to outline whether a statutory basis is needed for that. Perhaps it is not and perhaps that is simply part of the common travel area. When the Minister gets an opportunity to speak, perhaps he will address that point.

As stated, I have raised more questions than I have received answers. The Government is not at the root of this but it needs to do more to address what exactly is happening so our education system can be prepared for the catastrophe a disorderly or no-deal Brexit would cause.

See this speech in context