Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleague, Senator Marshall, for facilitating me. I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, the Tánaiste, the Taoiseach, the former Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, and the former Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, Deputy Dara Murphy. A wonderful job has been done. In congratulating the political side of Irish life, I must also take time to mark the fantastic work done by our officials throughout Europe. The officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have been second to none in the work they have done to support the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister of State in their work. The secretariat of the various committees involved in debating Brexit are to be congratulated on their work and commitment and their attention to detail to ensure we always had the most up-to-date information available to us as we discussed Brexit.

As has been said many times, Brexit is of no value to any of us. It is something we could have all done without. However, the fear is not on the European side, but on the UK side. I have just come back from a COSAC meeting where I met MPs and Members of the House of Lords and their commitment to a no deal seems stronger than their commitment to a deal. The opposition to Prime Minister May was palpable, certainly from one or two members. I have a fear, despite the best efforts of everybody in Europe and Mrs. May's tour de force in Parliament where she stood her ground even though she was harangued by everybody for three hours. I congratulate her on her tremendous performance. I sincerely hope she gets the support to get Brexit over the line. It is a good deal, no matter which way we look at it. It is a much better deal than the alternative.

We constantly talk of the imposition of a hard border. There has never been a hard border on the island of Ireland since the foundation of the State. There have been what I would regard as extremely difficult crossing, or managed crossings. There was a heavy military presence at every crossing for the past 40 years but we have never had a hard border and I hope we never see one. A hard border is a very different thing. Let us recall the Berlin Wall - that was a hard border. What President Trump is proposing in America is a hard border. I hope we never see a hard border on this island.

I agree with my colleague that it is regrettable that the nationalists who have been elected to Westminster - I accept they were elected on an abstentionist policy - will not take their seats and support this country in its quest to get Brexit over the line. That is a matter for them and for those who elect them, but I would like to put my feelings on record, nonetheless.

I agree with my colleague, Senator Ned O'Sullivan, that a rush to a Border poll now is something that must be rejected. I have seen no appetite in this country for a Border poll and I think we must first learn to live with one another before we start rushing in that direction. I have friends in the unionist community in Northern Ireland, many of whom support the DUP, and I feel desperately sorry watching a party effectively prepared to damage its own people over an ideology. I think that is desperately sad.

I hope things will settle down in the next few days. I know that Prime Minister May will sign whatever agreement she feels is worthwhile but I am not so sure the House of Commons will support her, and that will be regrettable.

I thank the Minister of State for her time and her willingness to be available to the committee and to this House anytime she has been called. We have never once had an excuse that she was not available, notwithstanding the fact she is running from one side of Europe to the other and has done for some time now. I hope she will get time to relax when this all ends.