Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is no question but that the greatest challenge facing Ireland is presented by Brexit which has been discussed in the two parliaments and at conferences. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has outlined broadly her position, while the Taoiseach outlined to the Cabinet today what action we were taking. However, we need a dedicated Minister for Brexit, someone who would have complete control over all of the negotiations on the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union. The Government must insist on Ireland having a representative at ministerial or ambassadorial level at the negotiations, at the negotiating table, as this is the only country, unfortunately, which has a land border with the United Kingdom. None of the other 26 countries in the European Union has a land border with it.It is a very special case and the Government must lay down to the European Union that we must have representatives at the negotiating table at the most senior level. Anything else would be unacceptable. The Government has leverage in this regard. We voted in the first instance to reject the Lisbon treaty and we probably made the right decision because it contained the Article 50 option to opt out which has allowed this disaster for the European Union to take place. From my experience as representative of the Government from 1989 to 1992 dealing with the Single European Act and the negotiator on behalf of the former Department of Industry and Commerce, Britain worked very hard to get the best possible deal over a very long period since it joined and it succeeded. It is a shame it will throw away all it achieved over that period. The more discussion there is the better. The Joint Oireachtas Committee European Union Affairs will discuss it with the Minister of State, Deputy Murphy, at 5 p.m. The House should have a further opportunity to discuss Brexit in the near future to monitor the developments that are taking place at a very rapid pace.