David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is an incredible achievement by Deputy Micheál Martin that he could read that speech with a straight face. There remains massive uncertainty surrounding Brexit. We are just under 60 hours from the original deadline but the House of Commons is only now starting the process of deciding what type of Brexit it wants. It will not decide today which option to choose but rather will merely vote on a range of options. It is incredible that we are in this space today. Although a hard crash is the most unlikely outcome, it remains an outcome in which we could find ourselves because of the lack of solutions coming from Westminster. It is also possible that Britain could instead end up with a long extension to allow it to do what it should have done two years ago, namely, decide for itself what Brexit means. It is incredible that two years later, following all the negotiations and having negotiated a withdrawal agreement, Westminster still does not know what Brexit means, and a series of indicative votes that may provide some way forward will take place today.

The reality is that there will be more uncertainty, which is why we in Sinn Féin hoped for a deal and hoped that the withdrawal agreement would be passed. We need to remove the uncertainty that has existed since Brexit was made a reality for us more than two years ago. The uncertainty affects businesses, farmers, citizens, people who use the all-island economy, people who are involved in transport and logistics, people who use the Border for commerce and travel and many other people throughout the island of Ireland. We know that the Government's plan in the event of a hard Brexit is to implement the omnibus Bill that was passed to support different sections of the economy. We in Sinn Féin, however, believe that the Government should go further and, whether there is a hard or soft Brexit, we have called for more contingencies, investments in the economy, supports for small and medium-sized enterprises and a Brexit stabilisation fund of €2 billion. The Tánaiste has stated in previous debates on the issue that if there was a hard crash, the Government would consider such a proposition and borrow money if necessary to ensure that the proper investments were made. Notwithstanding what might emerge from Westminster or that at the end of a long two-year extension we could face either Britain staying in the European Union or a softer Brexit, there remains much uncertainty and we are putting off the inevitable in respect of what the eventual agreement will be. That will create problems through the currency fluctuations that affect many businesses, exporters and others in the agrifood sector, who need supports now. The Tánaiste has put that on the record, which I welcome. I accept that some of the Taoiseach's comments on the Border can, and will, be taken out of context by people in Westminster who wish to undermine the backstop.

The United Kingdom cannot take an à la carteapproach to the Single Market or just take a decision to opt into it. If there is a hard crash, and if the North leaves the customs union and Single Market, the rules of the Single Market will have to be protected. That is legally the case. it cannot be opted out of. The Single Market is a legal mechanism and legal protections are built into it to ensure that the integrity of it, that is, of the Common Market or Internal Market, is protected. That will mean some form of checks and disruption, and we need to be honest with people, especially those in Westminster who believe that such checks would be a substitute for the backstop. They cannot be because the backstop ensures that the North of Ireland will remain in the customs union and elements of the Single Market to protect the all-island economy. Anything short of that is a disaster, a step backwards for the people of this island and in contravention of the Good Friday Agreement.

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