Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Fine, but the Taoiseach has a habit of leaving when we Independents rise to speak. Whether he thinks we do not matter I do not know, but he will find that out some day soon. It is disrespectful, and I hope the Minister of State passes on the message to him. I understand he is a busy man, but it always seems to be when the party leaders are finished that he decides to go.

As we know, the European Council has agreed to an extension to allow for the ratification of the withdrawal agreement by the UK. We in the Rural Independent Group have been co-operative and have facilitated, agreed to and gone along with all of the Taoiseach's and the Tánaiste's requests and briefings to date so we are not aliens in this regard or anything. The conclusions of the Council were extremely clear. Such an extension should last only as long as necessary and, in any event, no longer than 31 October 2019. At the very least we would then have the endgame in sight, and I hope we will because, quite frankly, everyone is fatigued with Brexit, I am sure no one more than the Minister of State, although I will not purport to speak for her. For everyone I speak to, especially those in the farming and business communities and in exports and hauliers, down to every village in rural Ireland, there is a huge feeling of uncertainty - that is the best word to use - and of angst to know when we will get an endgame, if we are going to get one, and what the result will be. There is uncertainty. I meet people excellent young business men employing up to 30 or 40 people and exporting a lot to England and indeed elsewhere. Their order books are falling and slipping and they are very concerned. Some of their staff have been let go already and they are doing their best to keep their remaining staff, but there is huge worry and the uncertainty out there is palpable and very real. The Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland, FCI, was here today hoping to meet the Minister, Deputy Bruton, but one could have an audience with the Pope now before meeting the Minister. Five Deputies from Tipperary cannot meet him about a post office in Thurles, and neither will he meet this national organisation, which is very worried and has huge concerns. The Minister was in the Chamber and around the House today, so it is a case of the Scarlet Pimpernel: he cannot be found. We seek him here, we seek him there, and then he sends out his colleagues to meet us. It is not good enough. Ministers must be held accountable to the people.

As I said, the endgame is in sight. If the withdrawal agreement is ratified by both parties before 31 October 2019, the withdrawal will take place on the first day of the following month. One would nearly want to carry a calendar now to keep track of all the dates and deadlines. It is worse than any messy divorce. We might need arbitration. What must be deeply concerning for the EU is of course the plain fact that if the UK is still a member of the EU from 23 to 26 May 2019 and has not ratified the withdrawal agreement by 22 May 2019, it must hold elections to the European Parliament in accordance with European Union law. This will have an impact on the number of seats we might or might not have.

In that vein, I would like to wish my colleagues, Deputies Clare Daly and Wallace, the very best with their late entry into the game. Their decision might be last minute but they will be a fair flush when they get out on the road. I am looking forward to meeting and engaging with them. I wish them well, although I will be lonesome here in the House once they both have been elected to Europe. We will miss them in the Chamber.

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