John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are aware that the spectre of Brexit casts its shadow over all aspects of EU activity at the moment. Regardless of whether or not an agreement is reached, the implications for Ireland are immense. The potential immensity of the impact of Brexit is compounded by the fact that we may well be in the midst of the Donald Rumsfeld arena of unknown unknowns. The scenario is exacerbated by Tory intent of deregulation across the marketplace.

Just last week, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland warned of a disruption to the food supply chain, not just for Ireland, but for the wider European Continent, as a consequence of regulatory divergence following the introduction of Brexit. This has enormous implications for food safety and businesses on this island. The Tories are vehemently opposed to the introduction or application of regulatory food safety standards. Attempts to date by farmers and campaigners in Britain to ensure that EU regulatory standards are replaced with a British equivalent have been defeated by Johnson's followers. Ireland, along with other EU member states, must ensure that substandard food produce will not be allowed to enter the Single Market.

The British regard EU food and animal health regulations as non-tariff barriers to trade and are seeking to have them removed. This would allow substandard food produce, for example chlorinated chicken from the US, to enter the food supply chain of the Single Market through Britain. This simply cannot be allowed to happen. We need focused support for food-based industries in Ireland. We also need to see focused engagement with food industry groups to help businesses understand and prepare for the real challenges ahead. We need to prevent attempts by the Tories to remove non-tariff trade barriers which have been introduced over decades in order to protect our health and animal welfare.

Another worrying instance of British deregulation is in the area of nuclear energy. The decision by Britain to leave the European Atomic Energy Community as part of its Brexit strategy, despite concerns over its readiness to do so from its own nuclear regulatory body, is worrying. There are real concerns regarding skill shortages in the areas necessary to establish a British regulatory system for both controlling nuclear material and meeting its international obligations. The fact that the Tories cannot come up with the means to control the flow of traffic to Dover post Brexit raises real concerns over its ability to develop the necessary IT systems to track its nuclear material. Previously, the British would have come under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice where it could be held accountable for failure to adhere to recognised standards of safety, but not anymore. The Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, claims that the impact of a nuclear incident in Britain could cost Ireland as much as €160 billion. Even if there is no radioactive contamination in Ireland after such an incident, the lost revenue accrued as a result of reputational damage alone could run to as much as €4 billion. It is incumbent upon the Government to demand that the British Government introduces the strictest possible regulatory measures and that EU negotiators impress this upon the British in the strongest possible terms.

I will briefly turn to the issue of the Moria camp on Lesbos. In response to much criticism of Government, some action was taken. The Minister with responsibility for children, equality, disability, integration and youth, Deputy O'Gorman, received additional funding in the budget to bring over more unaccompanied minors. I am surprised that was not a topic of conversation at the European Council meeting. Despite numerous requests to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, and the Minister with responsibility for children, equality, disability, integration and youth, Deputy O'Gorman, we have no details as to how that money will be spent and how many additional minors will be brought over. The Taoiseach might touch on that matter in his concluding remarks.

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