Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for being here. It is strange to hear the word "Brexit" now when we are so used to hearing about Covid. We have had a dose of Brexit for God knows how long. We had Brexit for breakfast, dinner and supper but now we have Covid-19. I am glad to get the chance to ask the Minister of State what actions are being taken behind the scenes and what support we are getting from our so-called friends in Europe. The Taoiseach made great play of the backstop more than two years ago. What is really happening? Farmers, business people and shopkeepers have all been hugely affected by Covid-19. Brexit is simmering away beneath the surface all the time. It is as though the gas range under the kettle has been turned down but not turned off. It will be reignited, which will have a huge impact on the economy, especially agriculture and exports.

What engagement has the Minister of State had with the farming organisations in the South? Has she had any engagement with similar organisations in the North? Has she had any contact with the new organisation, the Independent Farmers of Ireland, which seems to be the one that really wants to represent farmers? To be frank, some of the other farming organisations are a bit too close to the Government. They have been that way for several years. The same is true for many of the trade unions. It is a big merry-go-round. The people who those organisations are meant to represent are not represented at all. Has the Minister of State had any engagement with farming and trade organisations in Northern Ireland? What engagement has she had with the Irish Road Haulage Association? This organisation represents a very important part of our infrastructure, responsible for moving our goods from Ireland to places all over the world.

The previous speaker mentioned ports. It is very important that they are ready. This is not the Minister of State's area, but my constituency is affected by the N24 project running from Limerick to Waterford. That project has been shelved. It is vital for several reasons, including connectivity from Shannon Foynes Port in Limerick to Rosslare Europort. It is a hugely important piece of infrastructure. It will be more important than ever when Brexit happens. I would appreciate if the Minister of State would answer those questions about engagement and preparation. What funding are we receiving from Europe to beef up our preparations?

Deputy Berry mentioned something about which we have known for a long time. The Minister of State might say that it is not her area but that of the Minister of State with responsibility for defence, Deputy Paul Kehoe. The Army has been totally abandoned and so has the Naval Service, as Deputy Berry has rightly pointed out. We have vessels but we have no one to operate them. It is a shocking situation when one considers our fisheries and the defence of our national sovereignty.

See this speech in context