Dáil debates

Wednesday, 13 March 2019

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions

 

12:10 pm

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste. He might answer the questions on precisely what the European Commission and the European Union are considering in regard to state aid rules. We have been hearing about this for months and yet we have not seen any practical proposals. For many businesses and farmers the crisis is here and now. I also asked the Tánaiste if the Government would consider a Brexit stabilisation fund. We believe that such a fund is necessary to provide additional financial supports to the businesses that will be most affected by Brexit. Brexit is a massive market distortion, as we know.

The Tánaiste is right in pointing out that the pressure is in London, but London is playing a game of chicken with Dublin and Brussels on who will erect checks at the Border in a no-deal scenario. If we have a no-deal scenario and a hard Brexit, and if the unilateral tariff regime announced by the British Government today is imposed, what will be the response of the Irish Government?

What will be the response of the European Commission? That is what people are concerned about. They need to know how the Irish Government and European Union will respond to what I see as a fantasy solution and another attempt by the British Government to put pressure back on the Government and the EU.

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