Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will try to project my voice. The British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly was established under the Good Friday Agreement. It is a tremendous forum for meeting our colleagues from all over the region comprised of England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. We had interesting and excellent meetings with the Right Honourable Jeremy Hunt, MP and UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and the Right Honourable Ms Karen Bradley, MP and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Indeed, the Irish ambassador to the UK, Mr. Adrian O'Neill, acquitted himself very well, as we would expect from his experience. Yesterday, we were also guests at No. 10 Downing Street where we had an opportunity to meet the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

I am encouraged and hopeful that there will be a breakthrough in the Brexit talks on the future arrangements between the European Union and the United Kingdom. I genuinely believe that the backstop will be agreed for a special economic zone between the United Kingdom and Ireland in terms of the Border and the continued trade between us and our nearest neighbour. The United Kingdom and Ireland are two islands located off the mainland of Europe. Therefore, we need a special arrangement to ensure that the continuation of trade worth €1.1 billion between our two countries is maintained. It is vital. I am convinced that goodwill will be shown by both sides to bring about this agreement.

I compliment Prime Minister Theresa May on doing her utmost to solve this issue. She is under enormous pressure but she is an excellent Prime Minister. I firmly believe that she will produce a solution that will be agreed by all sides and that will benefit both Ireland and the United Kingdom.