Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Many speakers have already mentioned the fact the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union recently met with Vice President Maroš Šefčovič. He spoke about the difficulties being faced, including the issues regarding Russia and Ukraine and hybrid warfare, or whatever term people want to use for the weaponising of the migration crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border. These are very significant issues. He was steadfast in his position.

The vice president is dealing with the British Government, which is never particularly easy. In fairness, he is a lot more diplomatic than me. I believe the term he used was that it can be "difficult". I do not believe I have burnt him in any way shape or form by saying that. That is the reality we have all being dealing with, whether 100 years ago, during the Brexit negotiations or now. Obviously, there is still a threat to the Irish protocol. We have good soundings followed by not-so-good soundings. We know a British government will always make hay politically. We are never quite sure what its endgame is in this regard. It has also created instability among political unionism which is at this time engaged in the politics of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

We have all heard of or seen the research done concerning the major benefits that businesses, farmers and others have derived from the Irish protocol and its attendant protections and mitigations. It gives access to the British market and, equally and importantly, the EU Single Market. That is what we must work on. We want to have dialogue and to ensure that we have European solidarity in this regard. We want to ensure that we bring this uncertainty regarding the protocol to an end.

The only end, however, that will mean that the British problem in Ireland has been dealt with will come about when we get to grips with Irish unity. It is a conversation happening in wider society, among some of the people in this room and among the members of all political parties and those who are non-party. Even if people do not necessarily agree with unity, they must realise that it is a possibility. Therefore, it is utter madness if we do not prepare and plan for that eventuality and that must be done within this State and across this island. It is also necessary that conversations happen at EU level to allow for the required planning to be put in place. I reiterate the call that many of us have made previously regarding the need for us to have this conversation. We need a citizens' assembly in this regard and we even need an expanded shared island dialogue. It is necessary that we bring this conversation to the centre of Europe.

I agree with much of what has been said about the waiver of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, TRIPS. We all know the difficulties we are facing with the Omicron variant, but we cannot have a situation continuing that has led Mary Robinson to say that the EU "represents the biggest roadblock" regarding what needs to be done in respect of vaccinations. I therefore call for the implementation of the waiver on the agreement on TRIPS and for the Government to support it. If that is not the case, then we must see the alternatives that are going to deliver. I say that because none of us is safe until all of us are safe.

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