Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his comprehensive outline of the situation as it stands. We have discussed this issue on a number of occasions and I am pleased it has received the serious attention it deserves from all sides of the House. When we last debated this matter the waters were still very murky about Britain's intentions to trigger Article 50 but we must now, at least, welcome the clarity the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, has provided on that point. We now know it will be triggered before the end of March next year, which means the UK is set to leave the EU by mid-2019.

I had harboured hopes, especially for the sake of Northern Ireland and Scotland, that a second referendum would be held in light of the new information that has become available since they last voted and on the basis of new facts and a realisation of the dilemma they have created for themselves. Now that the British Prime Minister has veered towards a hard Brexit, the prospect of a second vote appears to be dead in the water. In The Daily Telegraphthis morning I read that, at a fringe event at the recent Conservative Party conference, a group of some 80 pro-EU Tories met and vowed to offer resistance to what they branded the reckless abandonment entailed by a hard Brexit. Pro-EU MPs have been urging Mrs. May to do everything possible to preserve access to the Single Market to the greatest degree possible, with many arguing for full access. I am pleased to see that resistance to a hard Brexit is also coming from the Liberal Democrats, who are portraying themselves as the party of the 48% who voted to remain. Unfortunately, the Labour Party in Britain is unable to offer any real opposition to Brexit as it is tearing itself apart.

I will turn now to look at Brexit from an Irish perspective. I have a long-standing interest in cross-Border affairs and I fully welcome the Government's plan for an all-Ireland civic dialogue on Brexit which will ensure the widest possible conversation by incorporating views from all sections of society on the island of Ireland. The cross-party engagement on Brexit has also gone from strength to strength. A number of Members of this House and the Dáil attended a symposium focusing on the economic implications of a UK withdrawal from the European Union. A new Cabinet committee on Brexit has been established, along with a strengthening of our embassy network abroad to focus on Brexit-related work. This is just a small example of the steps the Minister and the Government are taking to ensure Ireland withstands the fallout from Brexit. We are still at the very beginning of this process as a lot remains to unfold. However, I am happy that, so far, the Government has been incredibly proactive in tackling the aftermath of Britain's decision to leave the European Union. I welcome also the continuing engagement of the Taoiseach, along with the Minister and the Government, with other EU leaders and Governments and with its institutions, including the high-level Government meetings with Michel Barnier, the newly appointed EU Commission's chief Brexit negotiator, who is expected in Dublin within a few weeks, and the former Belgian Prime Minister who has been appointed Brexit negotiator for the EU Parliament.

The Minister hinted that, given our unique circumstances arising from the Good Friday Agreement, the bilateral arrangement which will be required between ourselves and Britain regarding Northern Ireland may be able to proceed in advance of the triggering of Article 50 and negotiations formally commencing. In due course, once negotiations commence the EU may formally give its blessing to any such arrangements. Perhaps the Minister might clarify that when he responds to the debate.