Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also extend to Senator Ó Clochartaigh every good wish for the future. I met him when he was first elected to the House seven years ago. He brought a huge interest in media and the arts. He came from very much a community background. I was my party's spokesperson on the Irish language and a friend of Senator Ó Clochartaigh's interviewed me and, let us say, she found me out in some ways. I was smiling to myself and thinking, "Good man, Trevor, you understand where it's at." I wish the Senator every success with TG4. On the downside, he will have no excuses when he is asked to do family duties. He can no longer say he is away to deal with political matters or anything like that. I wish him every success. As their team are reigning all-Ireland hurling champions, people in Galway have another six months to enjoy themselves. Needless to say, Roscommon are Nestor Cup champions until 2018 as well.

Today is a very significant day. We have the draft legal text on Brexit, which effectively ensures the North of Ireland is included in the EU customs union unless a solution is found. We find ourselves back in, for want of better words, a very historical, dangerous and interesting place. It reminds me of nearly 100 years ago. We might have had one of the bitterest civil wars between orange and green if the First World War had not broken out. In 1921, Churchill said, "How is it that the great English parties are shaken to their foundations, and even shattered, almost every generation, by contact with Irish affairs?" We must get this right. We need to prepare for the worst. We are in a very dangerous and difficult situation. The British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly will meet in Sligo this weekend. This brings parliamentarians from across the UK and Ireland together. We need to work much harder - not that we are going back to the previous situation. I always said that the Irish regard Brexit as the British politicians accidentally shooting themselves in our foot. I have always felt the Border on the island of Ireland would be the Achilles heel of Brexit. There is only one solution if the British want to have their cake and eat it, which is to have another vote on Brexit and to remain in the EU.