Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We live in very interesting times. Two weeks ago Ms Nicola Sturgeon, MSP, the First Minister of Scotland, was here and everybody was urging Scotland to vote for independence. That was wonderful and on Monday the British House of Lords launched the Brexit: UK-Irish Relations report in Dublin and London. The report was very practical and measured and it showed an interest in Irish-UK relations such as I do not think we have seen before. Nicola Sturgeon's presence in this Chamber was invigorating and generated great debate. It is what this Chamber should be about. At the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly in Cardiff two weeks ago, diplomats from Gibraltar gave a presentation on how concerned they were about Brexit. They are an overseas dependency and 96% of its inhabitants voted to remain in the EU. They want a special arrangement, too, and we should invite Fabian Picardo, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, to this House to discuss their concerns and ours. We need to build an alliance around Malta, Cyprus and EU-committed members which have a link to the United Kingdom. We should not be fearful of teasing out all the options because they are not just Irish-UK options but involve all the EU and the various dependencies. We need to work very closely together and I will be calling on us to invite the Chief Minister of Gibraltar to this House for an open and measured debate.