Seanad debates

Wednesday, 12 July 2017

Report of Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Motion

 

10:30 am

Photo of Jerry ButtimerJerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McEntee, to the House. I wish her every success in her new job and role. It is an important position that she now occupies and I know she is very much committed to it. I know from talking to members of the EPP last week in Minsk that they are very impressed with the way she has handled her brief. I commend the Minister of State in that regard.

I wish to pay tribute to all members of the Brexit committee. They took on their role responsibly and participated diligently in the process. The report is testimony to the work they did on a cross-party basis. I thank the members of the committee for their work and endeavour. As Leader of the House, I wish to acknowledge and compliment Senator Neale Richmond on his stewardship of the committee. It is easy to put together a committee. The difficult task is to compile a report and ensure that the basic rudimentary aspects of a committee are acted on in terms of due process, fair hearing, an extensive witness list and an outcome that all people can live with. Senator Richmond has done that and I commend him for it.

From watching and observing the Brexit committee and from reading the report, I gathered a sense of the extraordinary interaction and engagement, wide consultation and the willingness of so many who wanted to participate. This is a significant step for us as a Parliament in shining a light, as all Members have said, on the potential consequences and ongoing consequences of Brexit. It is important to build on the sectoral committee work that is being done.

As Senator O'Sullivan said in her speech, the committee and report are evolving in nature and perhaps we should not simply shelve the Brexit committee in its entirely, even though its terms of reference have expired in terms of its work. On a different day perhaps we can look at how we can use the model that we employ in this case on Europe with a view to ensuring that the House can hold future debates on Council meetings. There are reports in the Dáil on this matter. As Leader of the House, I am very much of the view that we should have regular contact with the Minister of State and An Taoiseach regarding the issue of Europe. Certainly, we need to look at the debate on the future of Europe and the issue of EU scrutiny. In the past when I was Chairman of the Joint Committee on Health, EU scrutiny was part of our remit. As part of the new Government the new Minister of State might look at how we can change that interaction. I wish to pay tribute to the former Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dara Murphy, who did extensive work before the change of Ministers of State. I thank him for his work in Europe as well.

The Government is very much committed to the consideration of Ireland and its unique position. That is evidenced by the outcome of the 29 April declaration in respect of the ongoing commitment of Government. We need to put that in perspective.

Many Senators made observations and remarks on agriculture, tourism and fisheries. The Government has been very proactive in these areas. We should also pay tribute to the Iar-Taoiseach for the way in which he travelled across the continent of Europe pursuing the Irish question and impressing the need for Ireland to be recognised with especial status as well as for his work to ensure the acceptance and understanding of the Irish position.

It is critical that we do not simply park Brexit now, but that we continue to shine a light across the continent of Europe. We need to ensure an awareness and understanding of the unique position of the island of Ireland. Central to this is the protection of the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process. We have had extensive discussion on that already today. It is critical that we inform rather than assume and that we go out, as we have done in recent months, to push hard across Europe. I have listened to the Members on the potential consequences and they have been articulated. However, to say that Government has not been engaged or involved is wrong. There have been some 450 plus meetings across Europe, extensive consultation and a declaration recognising the importance of Ireland. The EU Council, EU Heads of State and Council of Ministers were not simply drinking coffee and thinking that Ireland was a great place or whatever. They were told. They were listened to and cajoled by the Iar-Taoiseach, Deputy Kenny, the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, and the Taoiseach. We must continue to do that. We must continue our charm offensive across Europe and build on the capital earned and delivered by Deputy Enda Kenny.

Fine Gael has always been as a member of the European People's Party and has been a party of Europe. We have stood in the centre of Europe, fighting for our country and its interests. We will not be found wanting. I am confident that the Minister of State will play a key role in that regard. I wish her well. Mar fhocal scoir, déanaim comhghairdeas le gach ball den choiste as ucht a chuid oibre. Tá an tuarascáil seo ar fheabhas ar fad.

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