Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister, the Minister of State and the Government for the way they have handled the negotiations so far and the cool and calm manner in which they have dealt with the issues that have arisen.

To respond briefly to others' remarks, I think I was the first person in the country to promote the idea of an all-island economy and a single market for the entire island of Ireland. I think that is the best route and I think it will eventually come down to that. It is important that in this State we show our colleagues in Northern Ireland the benefits accruing to an all-island economy, and we can do that in the way that we do our business daily. A united Ireland is an aspiration already provided for in legislation. It should not be part of a threat but part of a solution as we proceed.

The possible snags are now becoming apparent. I know there has been a rapid response to the various issues, as the Minister has referred to. I ask that it might be intensified and that it might be possible for hauliers and business people in general to be able to get a fairly rapid response to issues as they arise and to get information on what is likely to arise given the current through flows.

Has adequate provision been made on the alternative routes for Irish imports and exports to and from the Continent, given the knowledge that there will be difficulties in using the route through the UK? As the Minister pointed out, that was already envisaged. It must be time to rely more on the things that we can make happen, rather than on what might happen. That is best done by the operation of the situation as it presents itself now, and hopefully we will see the best result.

I do not foresee a successful arrangement from the UK's perspective. I predict that some time in the next three or four years the UK will reapply for EU membership. That will become more obvious as time goes by.

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