Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the House. The European Union in itself is a peace process; it is probably the longest running peace process in the world and the project has been put in jeopardy by the result of the vote in the United Kingdom. Not only has the project been put in jeopardy but Northern Ireland and the peace process are also in jeopardy. Funding is one clear issue, as is a hard border being re-established. How it would look is hard to contemplate or understand at this juncture because approximately 30,000 people cross the Border every day on their way to and from work. A total of 1 billion litres of milk are transported across the Border every year. According to the chairperson of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce, there are more border crossings between the North and the South than there are between the European Union and all of the countries to the east of a border almost ten times longer. When we put all of this together, we see the mammoth task in ensuring the stability of the peace process. There is also the lack of funding and the provision of EU funding that will be put in jeopardy. Its provision is now in doubt as the British Exchequer will not be interested in supporting subsidies for farmers in Northern Ireland in the long run. This is a concern because to ensure an ongoing peace process, we need stability and Brexit is the furthest point from stability. It is a decision that can only be described as mad. President Obama described the United Kingdom's position on Brexit. He said the European Union did not lessen the United Kingdom's influence but enhanced it. It is hard to know why a nation would decide to lessen its own influence.

We welcome the Taoiseach's decision to proceed with the forum. There will be full participation by everybody on this side of the Border. I hope others on the other side of it will decide to change their minds and participate in what is a worthy initiative to ensure the best possible outcome for the island. In County Donegal this year the Taoiseach said the European Union needed to prepare for a united Ireland. I know that this issue will be addressed as part of the overall settlement between the United Kingdom and the European Union and will be part of the clauses, as allowed for in the Good Friday Agreement allows. It is something which must be part of our concerns and the negotiations. The peace process is certainly a factor which the Minister and the Taoiseach can present to all other European countries. They may not understand the nuances, but they do understand a peace process is fragile. No doubt they will understand this because, as I said, the European Union in itself is a peace process. I thank the Minister for coming to the House and his work on this issue.