Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like all Members, I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this very important Bill as we prepare for the eventualities of Brexit. We in Ireland have benefited greatly from our membership of the European Union, going back 46 years when we joined the then EEC at the same time as the United Kingdom. Nobody can doubt the change that has occurred in this country over those 46 years. We changed tack in this country from a primarily agrarian economy to a much broader, forward-looking, pro-business and pro-taxation country which benefited greatly from the investment provided for us as a result of our membership of the EU.

Since the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016, Ireland has faced a number of challenges. As a result of Government actions, the cross-party unity displayed in this House and our engagement with our EU counterparts from the other 26 member states, we have held strong and steadfastly defended the best interests of Irish citizens here and in Northern Ireland. We have shown that Ireland has a strong voice at European level.

As a State, we have serious concerns regarding the economic impact a no-deal Brexit may have. This is why the legislation is vital. However, our most vital concern is, and must remain, ensuring the continuance of peace on our island. In opting for Brexit, the UK has decided to leave the greatest peace project in history. It is a project which has brought peace to the Continent of Europe. As the Minister of State, Deputy Griffin, stated, it must not be forgotten that the Union was born out of the deaths of tens of millions of people.

The Good Friday Agreement, our own solution to the conflict on these islands, marked an incredibly important point in our shared relationship with Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. We cannot allow anything within the Brexit discussion to undermine such an important international peace agreement. I am often astounded by the fact that some in the UK, advocating for the removal of the backstop from the withdrawal agreement, fail to recognise the importance of the Good Friday Agreement to the creation and continuance of peace on our island. I have a clear message for those in Westminster who go about their daily business misleading, and, in some cases, simply lying, to the British people with no regard for the citizens of Northern Ireland. We must not allow the hard-won peace on this island to be undone by their need to massage their own egos with no concern for the peace and security of the people of Northern Ireland. We must not allow any action to be taken which could cause the return to the horror of the Troubles. This island, North and South, has moved forward in the past 20 years. Under no circumstances should we allow that difficult period to re-emerge.

There have been reports of some individuals suggesting, in the context of Brexit, that Ireland should know its place. As has been said by the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade on several occasions, we in Ireland do know our place. It is right at the heart of Europe. The position we adopted during the negotiation process has been supported universally and the European Union agrees with that sentiment. Members have an obligation to ensure the concerns of all Irish citizens, both north and south of the Border, are heard in the context of Brexit. The fact that those Irish citizens are not represented by their MPs in Westminster is lamentable.

While 53% of people in Northern Ireland cast their ballots to remain, the DUP, which is holding the current British Government in place, is pursuing a Brexit policy which would be disastrous for Northern Ireland. Even the UK Government’s own report, published yesterday, outlined the implications of a no-deal Brexit. It showed the impact would be most severe and longest lasting for Northern Ireland. Many Members may have read an article in The Guardianyesterday by Patrick Kielty, who is well-known for his comedy shows. He summarised Brexit negotiations quite well when he stated, "Theresa May has red lines, the European Research Group has absolute red lines, the Democratic Unionist Party has blood-red lines, and Jeremy Corbyn has blurred lines featuring Pharrell." This is quite appropriate given the bizarre approach taken by the various disparate groups in Northern Ireland to these negotiations. On the need for the backstop, Patrick Kielty stated, “[Yet as] Brexiteers preach about their precious union, Irish nationalists in the same country are meant to park the union they want and just work out how the chicken crosses the border.” Again, this is a debate which has consumed the British media for the past several months. Our own media fixated on one issue when we were clearly holding the line that there would be no border on the island of Ireland.

While these quotes may be humorous, they highlight the significant and serious issues we and our European colleagues face in the Brexit negotiations. Brexit, particularly a no-deal version, will have real and significant implications for everyone on our island. I am pleased the Government has presented this omnibus legislation, particularly in view of the large number of sectors in which action is required to protect the best interests of people in Ireland. We cannot and will not fail the people of Ireland, either in our negotiating positions or in our preparations for every possible eventuality.

I commend the Government and all parties in the House that have worked together in the best interests of those we represent. I pay tribute to the former and current Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the former and current Ministers of State with responsibility for European affairs. I also pay tribute to Senator Neale Richmond, chairperson of the Seanad’s Brexit committee, who has done extraordinary work in the British media, along with the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, and the Tánaiste.

I hope that, as a result of Brexit, we have learned the implications of individuals or groups portraying the false narrative which portrays the European Union as an evil body which forces certain decisions on countries. This is simply not true. This evening I got a text message from my wife with an ad from Facebook from We Love Europe. It proposes that the EU should be broken up and that each individual country should make its own rules and not be dictated to by the Union. That type of trickery forced Brexit on British citizens in the first instance. I recall the LBC radio station ran a piece detailing 40 years of fake news about the EU in the British tabloids from straight bananas to a ban on driving on the left-hand side of the road. These were all nonsensical stories at best.

The European Union provides our citizens and indigenous businesses with many benefits by means of the free movement of people, goods, services and capital. To have the ability to move or just travel throughout all other European Union member states provides our citizens, particularly our younger citizens, with opportunities that previous generations may never have imagined possible. These rights and opportunities are ones which we must work to ensure are retained.

The Bill has taken into consideration cross-jurisdictional justice instruments, bodies and funding, as well as child protection guidelines, which are topical today. The European Union has promised to continue to fund PEACE programmes and cross-jurisdictional programmes, as has the Government. However, I have heard nothing yet from the British Government. Given that this will benefit its citizens, that is somewhat lamentable.

We have had a debate on the potential impacts of Brexit on the Irish economy. There are a whole range of agricultural sectors which could be detrimentally affected by Brexit, including the horticultural industry and fresh food producers. These sectors are important in my constituency and north Leinster. I welcome the work done by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, in putting in place supports for the agrifood sector. The Brexit ready programme from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, operated through the local enterprise offices, is excellent. Businesses should engage with that programme.

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