Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On Brexit, I want to commend the visit of the Committee on European Affairs and to commend Senator Richmond on his work on the Seanad Special Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. We have heard the views of the Tánaiste, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McEntee, and An Taoiseach, and they have not demurred from that view. There has been a realisation in the United Kingdom that the Border question will not go away and must be resolved.

The invitation to British parliamentarians to visit the Border is something I would encourage. As Senator Wilson and others living close to the Border will recognise, Brexit will have a huge impact in the future, especially if a hard border is allowed. Progress is being made. The Government has always stated the backstop will apply unless another solution is found. It is important that this august Chamber should invite our fellow parliamentarians to visit the Border and to see for themselves the daily economic and social activity that goes on there and the impact that a hard border would have. Senator O'Reilly mentioned the fact that milk lorries cross the Border regularly, and cattle travel back and forth between the jurisdictions on a regular basis. This is not going to go away. I have asked the Minister to come to the House after Easter in respect of Brexit and he has agreed to that. We will be happy to have that debate as well.