Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This House can play an important role in regard to Brexit. We can do things here they cannot do in committees, or in the other House for that matter. The proposal was made by Senator O'Donnell to set aside a number of days to bring in various people who can outline their thoughts and views in regard to Brexit. This may require changes to Standing Orders or other initiatives to be taken. However, it is a very good idea that a number of days would be set aside so people from various quarters could come in to be the questioned and that the rules of the House would provide that they would outline their views. This could be of great benefit in allowing us to see where we are going or what might happen in the coming years. There is no doubt the UK will not be out of the EU for quite a number of years and we have seen recently that the trade deal between Canada and the EU took seven years to put together. Brexit has a long way to go, in my view, and what has been proposed by Senator O'Donnell could be very beneficial.