Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last year, ours was the only government in Europe seeking to promote its own instability and last weekend we saw this cynicism enter a new phase. The Taoiseach should remember that he has been handed a unique situation of guaranteed stability through Brexit. All Opposition parties have held back in Brexit-related debates even in the face of extraordinary provocation, such as the habit of members of the Government to claim that even the mildest challenge is against the national interest. Fianna Fáil took a decision not to use the demonstrable failures of the Government in critical issues like health and housing to force an election during these critical months and has lobbied extensively in Europe to promote the idea of a secure national consensus on Brexit even though we have very significant issues with the approach the Government has taken. I refer especially to its refusal to advocate special status for Northern Ireland in 2017 and the enormously damaging campaign of messianic self-regard in which the Taoiseach and many party members have engaged.

This nonsense and partisan posturing has to stop. We need basic transparency about what is being discussed. The situation at the moment is that if the withdrawal agreement is ratified, and its prospects are improving by the day, then Ireland will have a legal obligation, with the European Union, to offer credible proposals to whatever the United Kingdom proposes for the Border. In fact, the backstop is only guaranteed if the EU meets the requirement to negotiate in good faith, so the position of the Taoiseach, that no proposals should be made, becomes irrelevant on the day the withdrawal agreement is ratified. The only change since November has been a legally relevant assertion by the EU that the backstop is intended to be temporary and that the EU will negotiate in good faith and quickly to find an alternative long-term arrangement. The withdrawal agreement, if ratified, is not the end of Brexit. It is the opening of a new phase of Brexit.

When it comes to the Border, the hard work will actually only begin once the agreement is in place. We need a bit more openness and a lot less partisan positioning. We must also constantly remind ourselves that Northern Ireland’s positioning has been dramatically weakened by the absence of the Assembly, a body collapsed two years ago because of a heating scheme which was already reformed and appears to have lost nothing like the amounts claimed at the time.

At a time when Northern Ireland most needed a voice, this voice was taken away and the damage gets worse by the day. It was confirmed in Westminster this week that the United Kingdom Government is considering imposing direct rule in Northern Ireland. Why have we received no details about this? At a moment when the entire Good Friday Agreement is under threat, the impasse in Northern Ireland and the lack of basic co-operation between the two Governments is about more than just Brexit. If we truly want to protect the Good Friday Agreement, we have to understand that Brexit is only one threat among many, which need to receive proper attention.

Brexit will not be complete on 12 April, 22 May or any other date announced for a withdrawal agreement to come into effect. It will go on for a number of years at least and its long-term impact on Ireland will be permanent. We need to widen our focus and start paying much more attention to the fundamental challenges facing communities and businesses throughout our country. We have to show much greater urgency in trying to revive contacts and practices which delivered peace on this island but which have been undeniably undermined in recent years.

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