Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

As a great deal has been said but, in the short time available, I seek only to add to two points that have been made. Others have commended the Government on the role it played in the negotiations and the right emphasis it has placed on the Good Friday Agreement and its importance not only as an internationally recognised legal instrument and agreement but also as something with an extraordinary democratic mandate from all across these islands. It is important we underscore that when we hear talk about democracy being used in some of the debates we have seen in the UK.We have spoken about the hard border and although we have heard the assurance 100 times, we may need to hear it again in respect of ensuring that we commit that in any and all negotiations with whatever parties, Ireland will endeavour to ensure we do not return to the hard border either of our own past or the hard borders we have seen in other parts of Europe. I do not believe that is something any of us want. Regardless of the scenario or whether there is a deal or no deal, that is something we will have to work on.

An equally important part of the Good Friday Agreement is the guarantee of human rights which were given to citizens North and South. Some concern has been expressed in the past week in the House of Lords in the UK by the EU Justice Sub-Committee which noted there seemed to be some dilution in the language being used. The wording on the commitment to the EU Convention on Human Rights changed to "respecting the framework"-----