Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach. I have two brief queries. I am well aware of all of the hard work being done by the Minister and his Department but it is the Taoiseach who is our main point of contact for all matters related to Brexit. I do not believe that is the right policy, with all due respect to the Taoiseach. One man can only do so much. I believe it would be in the nation's interests to have a Minister for Brexit. I was one of the first politicians to ask that question, to which the Minister responded last October. We should think outside the box on this matter. We need another point of contact, if only to meet representatives of business and various interest groups that have genuine concerns regarding Brexit. We should consider this, rather than just saying "No".

I want to extend my best wishes to Mr. Martin McGuinness. I have met him previously and found him to be very amiable. I wish him a speedy recovery. Michelle O'Neill has been appointed as the new leader of Sinn Féin in the North and I wish her all the best. It is estimated that €500 million will be wasted as a result of the cash for ash disaster and it must be pointed out that Sinn Féin was in power when the scheme was set up. Sinn Féin was in power and was working together with the DUP. It should have done the deal and reversed the wrong. I firmly believe that should have been done before Sinn Féin pulled the plug. I have no problem whatsoever -----