Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The national statement on the future of Europe was discussed in the House on 18 April. I appreciate that this followed consultation throughout the country initiated by the Minister of State and European Movement Ireland but that statement is very technical. It is not very creative or imaginative. Perhaps it is realistic. In any event, this has fed into Ireland's position on the EU's strategic agenda for 2019 to 2024. I will follow up on something Deputy Howlin said. Does the Minister of State agree that the strategic agenda is a very conservative document in its outlook? It involves a reassertion of free market principles. Deputy Howlin was quite critical of it. What is the Minister of State's response to that criticism? I am certainly sympathetic to Deputy Howlin's point of view.

My second question is on the filling of the European posts: the President of the Commission, the President of the European Council, the President of the European Parliament, the President of the European Central Bank, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. There is speculation that at the heart of this impasse is a dispute between Germany and France on the very future of Europe and the direction it is going to take. Does the Minister of State accept that, having regard to the state of negotiations, the candidacy of Manfred Weber is over and that he is out of the running? Frans Timmermans of the socialist grouping is a realistic possibility for President of the Commission, as is Margrethe Vestager of the liberal grouping. Is there any possibility that Michel Barnier might come through this process? What is the Government's view in that regard? Basically I am asking what is Ireland's position on these negotiations. I know we are only a small country, but I presume we have a view. Perhaps the Minister of State will be prepared to disclose that to us.

My third and final question relates to the possibility of a no-deal Brexit and the avoidance of a hard border. At the same time the European Council meeting was being held, the European Commission published a paper on the importance of the backstop for the future of North-South co-operation. The Northern Ireland Department for the Economy has published a similar report with regard to threats to trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and to the complex set of relationships between the two. During the Conservative Party leadership contest we keep hearing talk of a technological solution, maximum facilitation, and so on, which is worrying. With regard to the two reports to which I have just referred, there are 145 areas of North-South co-operation. All of that is under threat in the event of a no-deal Brexit. It is obvious that a backstop is necessary and that a no-deal Brexit would be devastating. Will the Minister of State assure the House that the solidarity of our EU partners is fully secured in respect of the backstop and the avoidance of a no-deal Brexit?

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