Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I ndáiríre, tá freagra an Rialtais ar Bhreatimeacht an-easnamhach mar gheall go raibh an oiread sin ama ag an Rialtas i bhfad roimh chinneadh Phríomh-Aire na Breataine tús a chur leis an bpróiseas imeachta i mí Aibreán na bliana seo chugainn. Tá mo chomhghleacaí, Martin McGuinness, níos gníomhaí ar an ábhar seo ná mar atá an Rialtas anseo. Tá daoine ag impí ar an Rialtas Aireacht sinsearach a chruthú le dul i ngleic leis seo uilig. Dúradh linn go raibh fochoiste Rialtais ag déileáil leis seo, ach nár tháinig sé le chéile ach uair amháin ó bunaíodh é. Tá sé seo ag cur leis an éiginnteacht.

As the Minister is aware, my colleague, Martin McGuinness, is party to a case that is being taken against the British decision on Brexit to take the Six Counties out of the European Union against the will of the people. This is not something that just affects Britain. The majority in the Six Counties voted to stay in the European Union and they are looking to the Government here as well to show leadership in this regard. We are talking about Ireland in a very direct sense. Does the Government recognise and support the right of the people of the North to stay in the EU? Does it support the case that is being taken by those parties? The British Government's decision to move unilaterally has not been challenged by the Minister yet. It was summed up by my colleague, John O'Dowd, MLA, who said that if Theresa May wishes to take England and Wales out of the European Union, so be it, but she cannot ignore the vote in the Six Counties to remain. The Minister said that he has had discussion with David Davis, the Secretary of State for exiting the European Union, but has he had face to face meetings with him yet? If not, why not?

The pace at which developments are happening is frenetic. There needs to be an arm of Government that can respond speedily to these developments.

Caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuil imní ar lucht na Gaeilge maidir le hAcht na Gaeilge. Tugtar cosaint áirithe dóibh toisc gur chuid den Aontas Eorpach í an Bhreatain agus aithnítear cearta lucht labhartha mionteangacha sa chomhthéacs sin. Anois agus an Bhreatain réidh le himeacht, feictear iad ag cúlú ó leithéidí an Coinbhinsiún Eorpach um Chearta an Duine. Caithfidh an Rialtas an fód a sheasamh agus a mheabhrú dóibh gur faoi dhualgas na gcomhaontaithe seo atá siad i leith na Gaeilge, beag beann ar aon chinneadh inmheánach a dhéanann siad maidir le ballraíocht an Aontais Eorpaigh.

There also needs to be a refocusing of the arguments surrounding the impact of Brexit on this island. It will not only affect Border areas. For example, the agrifood industry has thrived due to access to the entire island and is a success story of the peace process. All producers will be impacted if there is an end to unfettered access to the island-wide market. Once again we in Sinn Féin have led on this issue. I am calling on the Minister to follow suit and be proactive. Our alternative budget has taken account of the impact that Brexit is likely to have on our economy. We have provided €20 million for North-South projects to offset the potential loss of €2.7 billion to GDP if Brexit goes ahead. We feel the Government is lagging behind. I note from the public discourse that the EU is saying it will not engage with Westminster until the button is pushed. What discussions are ongoing to defend Irish interests at a European level between the Minister and his European counterparts? Is the Government arguing the case for the Six Counties to remain in Europe and be given special arrangements to do so? Has the Government got legal advice on the impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement and the threat it places there?

I fear there will be a race to the bottom for the labour market if Brexit goes ahead. A Tory-led administration in Britain will put pressure on the labour market in particular, which will have a knock on effect on this country. We are crazy if we think it will not have an effect. What are the implications for ongoing co-operation in the health care area, where we have arrangements with hospitals in the North to treat Irish patients when they cannot be treated in the Twenty-six Counties? Tourism is similar.

I ask all parties in the House what they are doing about it. Sinn Féin has campaigned around Brexit. We are talking to all our grassroots membership on this. I note there is a day of action on 8 October around the Border counties and I would hope that Senators from across the House would support it. Will the Minister support that day of action?

Where does the Government stand on the Scottish Parliament's wish to stay in the EU? Does it support the call by Nicola Sturgeon, who also wants a special dispensation to stay within the EU? In the ongoing discussions we talk about the opportunities but I would like to ask about fisheries. There is a concern about the implications for fisheries in this State as Brexit may open up possibilities around renegotiating on quotas. We have been saying for a long time that Irish fisherman had got a very bad deal on fisheries quotas but this might open up opportunities to renegotiate the quotas. Is the Minister doing anything on the question of quotas?

The Minister said that in discussions with the Tory Government, it had a view that it wanted to keep a soft Border.However, he has not said whether his EU counterparts share that view. Economists have raised fears of potential black market activity in all areas, and particularly in commodities. We have seen a small level of black market activity in the past but if there are different tariffs and excise rates in the Six Counties and the Republic there is likely to be an increase in such activity.