Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute because this matter concerns and worries so many people all around County Kerry and the country. Whatever way England leaves, if it does indeed eventually leave, Ireland will not be as good a place to trade or to live because things will never be as good again as they have been under the regime that we have had for many years. There is already considerable worry and concern that our economy will slow down and that it will affect agriculture, tourism, haulage, small businesses and exports. They have no idea how tariffs will affect them or how we will get our agriproducts out of the country. Will there be tariffs when going through what we call the landbridge of England? What costs will there be? We are an island country and everything we export to Europe has to go through or else around England. It will be a greater cost and a significant inconvenience for hauliers not to be able to go through England. They are very concerned and are asking me what rates they will have to pay. Is that being ironed out at present? If the UK leaves, as it insists it will, with Mr. Johnson being prepared to leave at any cost on 31 October whether he has his clothes on or off, it will have a severe impact on things that people are maybe not thinking about at all. Will hauliers need one or two drivers to get from here to Germany? Will they need three drivers if they are going to places such as Finland or eastern Europe? They are asking all those kinds of questions. The hauliers will have to shoulder the extra burden and cost and they are concerned about it.

We appreciate all the work that the Government is doing and it has the support of the House to do its bit for Ireland. Many people are confused when they hear the Taoiseach saying there will have to be Border checks while the Minister, Deputy Coveney, says there will be no Border checks, though he supplements it by saying that they will not be near the Border, anyway. What does that mean? People need clarification about that. The British Parliament has said that it does not want to go without a deal. What is the deal? It is clear that it does not want the backstop. What else does it want or not want? If we went to the fair in Kenmare long ago with bullocks, when we went to the top of the town, we knew what we wanted for the animals. We did not go in hoping for some fellow to say what he would give us. One had to know what one wanted. It is not clear that the UK knows what it wants. It will affect agriculture, tourism, haulage, small business and everything, and we are all concerned about it.

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