Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputies Haughey and Troy. With six weeks to go until 31 October, we are facing the very real threat of a no-deal Brexit. We should heed the numerous warning from many EU leaders, including Jean-Claude Juncker who warned earlier today that there is very little time left and that the risk of a no-deal is very real. Despite the persistent political instability in the United Kingdom, it is important that Ireland keeps its cool during the increasingly tense few weeks ahead. Fianna Fáil will do its part and continue to act responsibly to help provide stability during these turbulent times.

The Government must be honest and transparent regarding its preparations for the worst-case scenario, namely, a potential no-deal outcome. We still have no answer to very obvious and genuine questions and the Government continues to keep citizens and businesses in the dark about what a no-deal Brexit will mean for the Border and for trade on the island. Fianna Fáil believes the backstop to be an integral part of the withdrawal agreement and that it must remain in place. The backstop protects the Good Friday Agreement, North-South co-operation and the all-island economy. It is incumbent upon Prime Minister Johnson and the British Government, as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to protect the agreement in full and to honour the commitments given in this regard. Allowing the UK to crash out of the European Union without a deal does not erase those responsibilities and the UK Government will find itself back at the negotiating table still having to solve the Border issue, address citizens' rights, and settle the withdrawal bill.

There is also an onus on the parties in Northern Ireland to restore the institutions, to get back working and to put an end to the political vacuum that has existed for more than two and half years. From an economic, social, and political perspective, a no-deal Brexit would devastate the region. Warnings have issued from many quarters that a recession could be on the cards for Northern Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Given the make-up of the North's economy, which is structured around small and medium enterprises and the agrifood sector, and the very tight supply chains linking north with south and east with west, the effects of a no-deal Brexit on Northern Ireland would be severe and damaging. It is therefore incumbent upon the parties in Northern Ireland and the British Government to protect the North, the peace process, and all the associated benefits that have flowed from it.

It is clear to all watching and studying Brexit that a solution specific to Northern Ireland is the key to unlocking the impasse that exists. The only way to avoid checks on the island of Ireland is to have regulatory alignment for trade between the North and the South. There is no way around this reality. We have spent the last three years searching for any such alternative. More than two years ago, Fianna Fáil proposed a special economic zone for Northern Ireland as a potential solution to the Brexit difficulty. The North would continue to be part of the UK constitutionally but would also enjoy the benefits of the EU market. This is essentially what is being proposed with a Northern Ireland-specific backstop, which is a bespoke solution for the North that would give it a clear trade advantage over Great Britain and even the Republic. This has, unfortunately, been rejected by the DUP, which is looking a gift horse in the mouth. While I can, to a certain extent, understand from where the DUP is coming and while I respect its right to have its own Brexit policy, I disagree intensely with its approach and believe it is not acting in the interests of the island of Ireland. I sincerely hope that the gap that persists can be bridged in the coming weeks.

There are also significant concerns about the relationships between Ireland and the UK and between the UK and the European Union. These relationships will undoubtedly change significantly as a result of Brexit. For the very first time, the UK and Ireland will go on very different paths. There will be an impact on the geopolitical landscape, as the UK seems to move further towards the United States. That impact will be seen in the coming decades.

There must be a step change in the Government's approach to preparing for Brexit and in how it informs the public about what will happen in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The argument for keeping one's cards close to one's chest, which is that it may undermine the State's negotiating position, is now defunct. With six weeks to go, people need to know. We cannot inform businesses, citizens and farmers as to how the Border may work on 1 November; we need to get that information today. It is evident that, since March, the Government has taken its foot off the pedal in terms of preparations for Brexit outcomes. We have been playing catch-up. Information received today by way of parliamentary question shows that, with six weeks to go to Brexit, 205 businesses with imports in excess of €1 million and 60 businesses with exports in excess of €1 million still do not have EORI numbers. This needs to be addressed urgently. We also know that the Government still has not tested the robustness of systems in place at ports and airports to see if they will work in the event of a no-deal Brexit. There is now insufficient time to do so and to rectify any potential problems. This oversight is unacceptable and inexcusable.

When we ask about the funding that will be made available to vulnerable sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and haulage - a question I have continuously asked over the past two years - we are told that budget 2020 will be based on a no-deal scenario and that the Government will make provision for timely, targeted, temporary measures for the most exposed sectors. We have absolutely no clarity, however, on how much will be made available, on whether these measures will be loans or grants, and on how soon after 31 October this money will be available. Given that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, has stated that he will have to borrow to fund Brexit emergency planning, we have to expect that this funding will not be available immediately in the event of a no-deal Brexit. These are obvious questions that the Minister continues to avoid answering. This lack of information is only compounding the anxiety being experienced by farmers, businesses, and citizens who are looking to the Government for leadership and support.

Reports last week from Ernst & Young suggest that while our cities will continue to grow in the event of a no-deal Brexit, albeit at a slower rate, rural communities could slip into recession. That is deeply worrying. Reports from the Central Bank of Ireland suggest that one third of farms could close down in the event of a no-deal Brexit and that we are looking at potentially losing 10,000 jobs in the tourism sector. In the west, for example, tourism and agriculture are the biggest employers. We cannot sustain job losses of this magnitude. We will need direct supports, not three or six months after the fact, but immediately.

Furthermore, there is still a lack of clarity regarding how the Government plans to ensure there is no hard border on the island while protecting the integrity of the Single Market, which we all accept must be protected. Earlier today, the Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, stated that the force is ready for Brexit. Have additional resources been provided to an Garda Síochána or will current resources be redirected? Again, this is a reasonable question that has not been answered. This House also requires an update on the preparedness of our Defence Forces, particularly in view of the fact that the Government has cut the Permanent Defence Force to such an extent over the past decade that it is now a skeleton operation.

It is also questionable whether it would be able to respond to emergency Brexit scenarios.

It is essential that the Government be upfront and transparent with the Oireachtas and the public about the full implications of Brexit and its level of preparedness for every sector. We need to hear further details about what the Government plans to do to rebuild the relationship with the UK and to put in place new mechanisms for the continued work, exchange and dialogue between the Prime Minister, the Taoiseach, Secretaries of State and Ministers. Today, the Tánaiste admitted that the mechanisms and forums available through the EU will obviously no longer be available. We need to know the details of what forums will be available to ensure continued dialogue and engagement with our closest neighbour and nearest market.

There has been a great deal of posturing on all sides in the Brexit process over the past three years, but we all accept that politics will have failed miserably if we allow a no-deal Brexit to happen. We simply cannot wear a no-deal Brexit. It would devastate our country, our economy and the rural communities that rely on the most vulnerable sectors. We must do everything that we can to ensure that a deal is done. I dread to think of the implications for our country if a deal is not reached. Food exports of in excess of 40%, with the beef sector already in considerable difficulty, tourism and the haulage sector will all be severely impacted. I urge all parties to the Brexit process to do everything they can in the coming weeks to ensure that a deal is delivered for all citizens in Ireland, the UK and across the EU.

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