Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá ár dtír, mar atá a fhios againn ó thuaidh agus ó dheas, faoi bhagairt Covid-19 don chuid is mó den bhliain 2020. Cuireann an Bille seo atá os ár gcomhair inniu i gcuimhne dúinn go bhfuil bagairt eile ann. Is é sin an Breatimeacht agus nílimid réidh leis an mbagairt sin go fóill. Much of this time over recent weeks and months has been occupied by responding to the challenges the virus has posed to our health, the health services, jobs and the economy. The Bill before us is a reminder that other challenges loomed large before the outbreak of Covid-19. Few are greater than the challenge of Brexit. Just as there is hope that a vaccine can be manufactured and distributed to bring an end to the Covid-19 emergency, there is cause for optimism that the challenges brought about by Brexit can be overcome and an agreement between Britain and the European Union can be found that protects our island and safeguards the Good Friday Agreement in all of its parts. The British Government has pursued a narrow and reckless strategy that has undermined trust in these negotiations. Boris Johnson, instead of preparing for an end to the transition period that causes the least disruption and protects these islands, has used the Irish protocol as a bargaining chip. He has sought to undermine the Good Friday Agreement and has introduced an internal market Bill which clearly breaches international law obligations under the withdrawal agreement and completely undermines trust once again in the British Government.

Ag achan céim den phróiseas seo agus de na cainteanna sháraigh Rialtas na Breataine agus an Páirtí Tóraí ansin go docht Comhaontú Aoine an Chéasta agus ní raibh ionracas ná dea-intinn ar bith le taispeáint acu. There is reason to believe that Boris Johnson’s strategy is running out of road, and that is welcome. On Monday, the Tories' internal market Bill suffered a significant defeat in the House of Lords by 433 votes to 165, with amendments passed which removed measures of the Bill that disapplied the Irish protocol and were in breach of international law. The election of Joe Biden as the next President of the United States will further frustrate the British Government’s reckless strategy. President-elect Biden has made clear his commitment to the Good Friday Agreement, as have many other legislators in America such as Nancy Pelosi, Richie Neal, Donegal’s own Brendan Boyle and many others. It has been reported that President-elect Biden warned the British Prime Minister yesterday that Ireland cannot be collateral damage in the pursuit of Brexit. He and both parties in Congress have made clear that there will be no trade agreement unless the Good Friday Agreement is upheld and protected.

In the coming months, we have an opportunity through Washington and Brussels to exert maximum pressure on London in order to ensure the best outcome for our country and its people. In achieving this objective we need a unified approach in this Dáil. That is essential and we will support the Government to that end. We know that nothing is certain. Our people, their jobs and livelihoods have already borne so much uncertainty this year. We all know the heavy toll that has been exerted and exacted on many since the outbreak of Covid-19. A disorderly Brexit would be another blow to our economy and people.

While Covid-19 has hit certain parts of the economy hardest, particularly in the retail, hospitality, tourism and construction sectors, the industries a disorderly Brexit would most strongly impact on are different. These are agriculture, food, traditional manufacturing and fishing. Ireland, North and South, has spent the year dealing with a public health emergency that has dealt a blow to sectors of our economy. A disorderly Brexit would deal a further blow but to different sectors entirely. Preparation, therefore, insofar as it is possible, is absolutely crucial.

The Bill before us is part of that preparation. Broadly speaking, the objective of the Bill is to maintain the status quo of the common travel area and current legislation for the transition period which ends after 2020. This is in order to achieve minimum disruption as a result of whatever comes to pass at the end of the transition arrangements. That is a common sense approach. We look forward to scrutinising these provisions further and in greater detail on Committee Stage.

This Dáil will do its work to ensure that the interests of our islands are defended from the threat posed by the British Government. We should not lose sight of the fact that there is no such thing as a good Brexit. The people of this island did not choose Brexit. As for the North, whatever final shape it takes, Brexit will be very damaging. As this Dáil works to protect the Good Friday Agreement in all of its parts, let us not also lose sight of its greatest promise. We have had much talk about the Good Friday Agreement in the context of Brexit and the agreement is probably now better understood internationally than ever before. One of the greatest promises of that agreement is the reunification of our country and a future where the people of the island determine their destinies together. That is something that all of us in this House should strive, prepare and campaign for. Fad atáimid ag tabhairt cosanta do Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta, caithfimid gan dearmad a dhéanamh don ghealltanas is mó atá sa chomhaontú sin, is é sin athaontú na tíre, agus creideann Sinn Féin gur chóir d’achan Ball, páirtí agus duine neamhspleách den Oireachtas seo a bheith ag cuardach, ag eagrú agus ag plé na ceiste seo sa dóigh go dtig linn an príomhaidhm atá ag na páirtithe sa Dáil seo a bhaint amach. Gabhaim buíochas, a Cheann Comhairle.

See this speech in context