Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat. I listened with interest to Senators Leyden and Gavan on the issue of Brexit. They both made interesting and relevant point, with which we can all agree. While I think the Departments are prepared, in a sense we will be forced to hasten slowly because Britain is all over the shop. The United Kingdom has a weak Prime Minister, a divided Cabinet, and every time that Boris Johnson appears in public, he tosses his hair before he opens his mouth and then he says the European Union can go whistle. Michel Barnier, who is I believe a considerate and a very good man, says he does not hear any whistling but merely a clock ticking - one that will do damage to Britain. On the other hand the other Secretaries of State, David Davis and Philip Hammond, take a different view from Boris Johnson. As to what will happen when they get into detailed negotiations, no can tell at this stage.

Of course, there must be give and take. They will have to give serious consideration to staying in the customs union, as they want the benefits of the customs union. They cannot it have it both ways. The negotiations will be a long road. The transition period could be long and it will be very important.