Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We know that Brexit presents the most serious social, economic and political challenges to our island in a generation. Sinn Féin campaigned against Brexit because it undermines the Good Friday Agreement, harms the rights of citizens and damages the economic interests of those who live on this island. Brexit brings fear, uncertainty and division and it is a lethal cocktail to throw into our imperfect peace. The people of the North rejected Brexit. A majority of voters voted against Brexit because they recognised the folly of one part of our island being inside the European Union and the other being left outside but also because of the very real impact it would have on their lives.

Interestingly, a report released by the British Government yesterday on the implications of Britain leaving the EU highlights clearly that the North would be the most negatively affected region in these islands. Of course, the North of Ireland or the peace process never really featured in the thought processes of those who championed Brexit. It is interesting also that it states that the North would more severely affected than Britain, and for much longer.

This omnibus Bill is the bare minimum needed in terms of Brexit planning. It deals with some of the practical matters that will impact immediately on people’s lives in the event of a no-deal Brexit, such as access to healthcare, cross-Border travel, access to education and pension entitlements, as we heard earlier. Dealing with these matters is absolutely necessary but hopefully they will never be needed.

There is a withdrawal agreement between the EU and Britain on the table. The backstop contained within it is not perfect. Again, it is the bare minimum required to protect the Good Friday Agreement in the short term and ensure some safeguarding of our collective economic interests. However, five weeks from Brexit, the British Prime Minister continues her Lanigan's ball approach to the deal she made with EU negotiators. One day she is in and then she is out on the sidelines, an observer oblivious to the reality that time is running out and she is facing a lonely journey home.

Brexit was a game changer. The consent of the people of the North has been ignored and the rights and aspirations of Irish citizens undermined. Brexit does not just affect businesses. It affects communities and the people of the North and the South, and we need to address that reality.

The cross-Border integration and all-Ireland approach on the wide range of issues at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement is at stake. The consent principle at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement was ignored. The human rights mechanisms at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement are being ignored. The Irish Government is a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement and must not allow any diminution of Irish citizens' rights.

Sinn Féin has proposed the development of a €2 billion Brexit stabilisation fund. This should be put in place to complement, not to substitute for, any EU supports that are forthcoming in the event of a no-deal Brexit. We need supports for small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, in vulnerable sectors, as well as targeted capital investment in our ports, roads and airports and in housing, health and education.

Enterprise Ireland has said that up to 25,000 jobs could be lost in a no-deal scenario. That has to be deeply worrying for everyone on these islands.

There is also a significant gap in this legislation, which has been touched on by speakers. It fails to address the fundamental issue at the heart of the current crisis, namely, partition. In the event of a no-deal scenario, it is absolutely incumbent that the constitutional future of the North is put to the people in a referendum on Irish unity.

The people of the North should not be dragged out of the European Union by hardline Tory Brexiteers, the Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, or those who know absolutely nothing about Ireland. The bottom line is that the majority in the North voted to remain and that decision must be respected and upheld. The people of the North are entitled to have their say on their future and, again, this is provided for in the Good Friday Agreement. The Taoiseach has consistently stated there will be no hardening of the Border and that all agreements must be protected. Instead of a hard border, people, North and South, should be given the opportunity to end partition once and for all.

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