Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Since Britain first announced its intention to break away from the European Union, it has generally been acknowledged by all onlookers that the fortunes of the Republic of Ireland would suffer most from this event. Not alone do we share social, cultural, economic and political ties with the UK, we also share a common Border which, with the advent of the Good Friday Agreement, has become a well-travelled route of commerce on the island of Ireland with over 33,000 movements daily. A significant amount of this transport is commercial in nature and represents the transit of national and international goods and services traded between Ireland, the UK, mainland Europe and beyond. Political and social integration that was achieved with the Good Friday Agreement has also led to economic integration, particularly in the areas of agrifood, with beef, lamb and milk products crossing the Border daily. This seamless transfer has provided for business models to develop to the benefit of all communities on the island of Ireland.

The idea of severing relations between Britain and the EU was a construct of the Tory Party, which has championed its nationalist fervour in order to achieve its wish list of financial sovereignty, self-regulation and the idea that the UK economy would power ahead when freed from the shackles of European legal and fiscal oversight. Europe was deemed at fault for the destruction of the British car, coal and aviation industries. Unemployment in the north of England was sold to voters as the result of European meddling in UK fiscal management. The changing demographic face of the UK - the result of freedom of movement of those impacted by the UK's colonial past - was instead presented as the fault of access mandated to EU citizens.

The result of all of this messaging was that British society became somewhat fractured and implemented the decision to leave the EU. The consequent guarantees and commitments given to protect the Good Friday protocol in the recently negotiated withdrawal agreement now also appear subject to the new iteration, depending on the whims of the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and his trusted Brexit advisers.

Whatever our political opinions on the actions of the current UK Government, we in Ireland must remember that our significant economic and cultural ties are forged with the British people and not their political elites. Britain has long been one of Ireland's largest trading partners and will likely remain so after Brexit has been dealt with. Britain and Ireland share significant export and import requirements that each rely on the other to provide. Although some trading trends may change based on price fluctuations, it is likely that it will still prove easier for Irish medium-sized businesses to develop UK customers as opposed to customers in Europe, the US or Asia. The geographical position of our countries will not change after a delivered Brexit. We will continue largely to speak the same language, consume the same media and eat the same meals, although the food provenance may change somewhat for certain people in the UK.

I urge all those in the Government who are dealing directly with the Brexit issue to continue to negotiate with integrity and good faith. While relying on our EU friends to mind our economic interests, it must be remembered that the UK is still an important ally and economic friend to Ireland. Ireland will most likely have to pick up the economic pieces as a result of Brexit. Doubtless our national trading relationship with the UK economy may change to a significant degree.

Brexit will also challenge the UK population. Within that challenge will come opportunity to redefine our economic ties and to continue in close co-operation as the only two islands on the western edge of Europe. Brexit must not become a UK-Ireland divorce but rather a managed separation that allows each party to continue to respect each other's differences and to work in co-operation while working closely to our mutual benefit and security.

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