Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is good to have the Commissioner back again for a second time in Seanad Éireann and particularly to have this update he has given us at such a crucial time in our history. To have someone at the nerve centre with all of this Brexit uncertainty is vitally important in ensuring the Irish position is to the fore and is not overlooked.

No doubt Mrs. May will refine and update her mention of the speech to which the Commissioner referred because there is no doubt that some form of customs arrangement will be necessary. Despite all the discordant voices in Tory Britain and in the Conservative Party, I think it would be unconscionable that Britain would leave without a withdrawal treaty agreement and an implementation phase cum transition deal. That will be necessary. As in all negotiations of this serious kind, we will probably have to await the 11th hour for a satisfactory outcome. That is it. What the Commissioner has said to us was very interesting. He is on top of the situation so again we thank him very much.