Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also wish to refer to the debate on Brexit yesterday. There is a lot of insecurity and instability at present. While we, as democrats, accept the decision made by the United Kingdom, I cannot accept that it is now holding the Irish, UK and world economies to ransom by kicking to touch a decision for a minimum of three to four months. The Leader needs to put pressure on the Taoiseach and the Ministers who will be in attendance in Europe in the coming weeks to move the process forward. Europe is now saying it will not discuss the exit details until the British invoke Article 50. Markets react to instability and will always err on the side of caution in their own interests. As has been said before, the biggest problem facing various businesses, in particular agribusiness, is the sterling exchange rate. Our exporters are suffering terribly. While insecurity and instability remain ongoing, the markets will control the sterling exchange rate. This influences people's pensions and our exports. We cannot stand on the sidelines and watch Europe and the UK kick the decision down the line. The UK is looking for three months to sort out its political affairs. Our biggest loss will take place during that period. Once the exit details are being negotiated, who knows what will happen. We are in the EU and can be part of the negotiations. Things may not be as bad as certain people have painted them. The one thing that is sure and certain is that while insecurity and instability continues for three or four months we will suffer in terms of our exports, agribusiness and as a community in general terms of the fluctuation of sterling. The situation will not stabilise while there is insecurity.

I accept the decision of the people of the UK. It was a democratic decision. I do not and cannot accept that once they made the decision, they cannot enact it and are entitled to postpone it for three months in order to get party political leadership in order. This is happening at the expense of the Irish, European and world economies. The Leader must put pressure on our representatives in Europe to try to move the process forward and eliminate the current instability.