Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Having spent two days in Brussels and having had 14 meetings with my colleague, Senator Neale Richmond, and Members of the Lower House, I have been thoroughly impressed by two things. The first is the message that Ireland was in need of special consideration, particularly following the Good Friday Agreement. The second is that Ireland is a committed European Union member and needs, if one likes, a special understanding with respect to how we will engage with the UK and the EU following Brexit.One message that came loud and clear from our trip was that the time for tea and sympathy was over. We need to come forward with five or six definite issues that we wish to have addressed. We need to make them public and put solutions on the table. When we met Mr. Michel Barnier yesterday morning, he asked us to give him solutions. He said that if we gave him solutions, he would try to implement them. I was delighted to hear from him that he would be willing, at the Cathaoirleach's invitation, to address this House. That is an extraordinarily generous step by a man who has been given such an onerous task and I hope it is something we can facilitate in the coming weeks. My colleague, Senator Neale Richmond, was particularly anxious that he would do so. He and I together called for it to happen and are now asking that the invitation be put in place.

That is the complimentary side of my contribution side finished. Of course, I could not possibly let the Leader away with nothing but compliments. The other side of my argument is that the time has come for public statements and for us to step up to the plate to say what we want and how we believe it can be implemented. That has to be done without further delay. Ireland is streets ahead of other member states in the planning process, but very few citizens know what is going on. I meet people every day of the week who say Ireland is following Britain. I do not believe we are. The Commissioner pointed out earlier in the year that Ireland needed to differentiate itslef from Britain and should not get dragged into its argument with the European Union. We need to set out our own stall firmly.

This morning we all received an e-mail from the Tesco organisation on impending industrial action. I do not think it should try to use this House to fight its argument. The only thing I will say to it is that if it does not reach an agreement with the staff whose terms and conditions it is attempting to change, it should not change them. If there is no agreement, there should be no change.

The Leader might take these few points on board.