David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are now just shy of three year's since the Brexit referendum result. Despite the great time and effort that have been put into negotiating the withdrawal agreement, the many debates, consultations and sittings of the Brexit stakeholder meetings which were organised by the Tánaiste and which the Opposition have worked constructively on, we are no closer to the ratification of the withdrawal agreement. This must be very concerning for all of us. Despite serious reservations about the agreement and the absence of several issues therein, especially the rights of EU citizens in the North and aspects of the Single Market in relation to services, our view is that it is the least-worst option for Ireland and is a deal that must be honoured if we are to minimise the impact of Brexit. There is an extension of the Article 50 process, as per last week's agreement of the European Council. The extension buys us time and gives six months more to try to pass an agreement. The most important thing is what happens over the next six months and if Westminster and British politics can arrive at some sort of consensus to pass the agreement and something else, whether a customs arrangement or otherwise.

What cannot be allowed happen is for hard Brexiteers and those opposed to the withdrawal agreement and its protections for Ireland be given an opportunity over the next six months to rehash all the old arguments which have been put to bed by the European Council, the European Parliament and by European negotiators. We in Ireland and the EU must remain steadfast that the withdrawal agreement and the Irish protocol or backstop must be honoured and cannot be renegotiated or picked apart in any way. We made this case that the backstop must be honoured to Theresa May and to Jeremy Corbyn last week when our party leaders met with them. It is the only realistic deal, which mitigates some of the worst aspects of Brexit for Ireland. Our party leader outlined this to the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, this morning. We welcome her steadfast support for the Good Friday Agreement and ruling out any post-Brexit trade deal for Britain if Brexit weakens the Good Friday Agreement.

Despite the vast majority of people on this island, North and South, across all 32 counties, nationalist, unionist and otherwise, who support the backstop and protections for Ireland, we cannot take anything for granted. There is still the possibility that six months down the line that a no-deal scenario will present itself again. We must be mindful of what will happen. Hopefully, it will not come to pass but in the event it does, we will remind the Taoiseach that this constitutional issue must be put to the people. It is time for the Irish Government and Fianna Fáil to get serious about the unity of our country. There is nothing to be feared in relation to Irish unity, it is a legitimate political aspiration. It can only be achieved through democratic means. No one should be afraid of the ballot box or a referendum. The two larger parties in this State do not seem to understand that but it is a matter for them.

Local and possibly European Parliament elections are coming up in the North in coming weeks. I welcome that for the first time Fianna Fáil will be part of truly national politics and will field candidates with the SDLP. We will see its outcome. I put my faith in the people. Let us see what they say about candidates from Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil-SDLP.

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