Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The next European Council meeting will concentrate on EU climate and digital goals and of course on Brexit. On climate goals, the EU has committed to an emissions reduction target of 55% by 2030 in order to be carbon neutral by 2050. Does the new climate Bill to be launched today fully integrate those targets into its actions? There will be a €600 billion fund in the next EU budget for climate and green investment including a just transition. Are we preparing in a coherent way across Departments to take full advantage of the opportunities that will be presented by this fund? What role will the regional assemblies play to ensure a balance of investment across the regions? It is essential that the regions do not lose out in all of this and crucial that it is not a top-down process. Similarly, the digital transition will have a profound impact on society and the economy. We must ensure strong regional participation and impact. Otherwise, all the talk of balanced regional development in the programme for Government is meaningless.

It is my understanding that Brexit was just a brief information point at the end of the last European Council, which wrapped up on Friday. I believe the mood was souring and I am informed that many EU leaders are coming to the view that just maybe a no-deal can be "less worse" than a bad deal. Since then, Chancellor Merkel has met with Mr. Barnier, we have had the phone call between Ursula von der Leyen and Boris Johnson and it is more positive. However, I believe we are on a knife edge. Unlike some people in this Chamber, I believe our strength in these negotiations comes from the legal basis of the withdrawal agreement with the EU foursquare behind us. Commissioner Sefcovic speaking in the European Parliament last week described the Good Friday Agreement as crucial while the US Congress sees itself as a guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement. We do not need to behave like the British. We should not play their game. We should play the game that we can win, the game with our partners.

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