Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support some of what Senator Feighan said here this morning. I had long thought that things were progressing satisfactorily. Certainly, the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly does good and valuable work. I now think, however, that the Senator is correct. Given that the news from the North this morning is not encouraging, and from the DUP in particular, an east-west dimension would be well worth pursuing. It could be valuable because there are people short of enlightenment over there. In terms of Brexit, it is in our interest to have an east-west dimension and a proper all-encompassing free trade agreement between the UK and the EU. While the UK does not want to say whether it will be part of the customs union or the Single Market, whatever it is called it has to be negotiated. The UK must be reminded that there are more then legal niceties - obligations - to be complied with and observed in leaving as much as when joining. That aspect does not seem to have fully dawned on them. We await the speeches that will commence today with the UK's Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, to see what, if anything, they have learned. Hopefully, there will be some enlightenment. In the medium term, Senator Feighan's proposal to have an east-west dimension and link between these Houses and Westminster would prove valuable and might counter some of the forces over there that do not work in our interests. That does need to be countered.