Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Mar an gcéanna le roinnt mhaith de na cainteoirí eile, cuirim fáilte roimpi agus gabhaim buíochas léi as an obair atá déanta aici ar an gceist seo go dtí seo.I echo the words of commendation for the Minister of State and her steadfast leadership on this issue, but we are not done yet. I know that she acknowledges, understands and appreciates this better than most. I wish her and the Government well in the eleventh hour work that must be done in the next while because it is of such crucial national importance and will have an impact on every facet and aspect of Irish life. There is no corner of this island that will not be touched negatively as a result of Britain's decision to leave the European Union. As has been touched on, in typical and, as some would say, predictable fashion, this afternoon the DUP has stated "No". While not entirely surprising, what should give the Minister of State and her Government colleagues strength and focus is the fact that Ulster has not said "No". A majority of people in the North voted to remain and, according to all of the latest opinion polls which I am sure the Government has studied carefully, their support for remaining in the European Union has not just stayed the same but actually increased. They do not want this reckless Brexit inflicted on the North against the will of its people. As others have acknowledged, none of us wants to be here and I am sure that includes the Minister of State. None of us wants to have to deal with this legislation, but it is work of last resort. We are where we are in that regard.

On amendments to the Bill, Sinn Féin has sought to amend it with sincerity, in good faith and the spirit of co-operation we have all brought to this issue in the past two years. As everyone here acknowledges, the withdrawal agreement must be legally sound and binding. It must remain unaltered. The backstop - the bare minimum insurance policy - must also remain unchanged and uncompromised. It is our view that last night's events have not changed the legal position on the withdrawal agreement, as endorsed by the Oireachtas in November. Our ultimate backstop is the Good Friday Agreement. We must forever be alert to the further jeopardy Brexit and the actions of the British Parliament might inflict on the agreement which must be protected in all of its parts.

This is a time of great and deep uncertainty. People are very concerned. I am concerned, not just as a politician and someone who is privileged to serve in this House but also as a cross-Border worker. I am concerned as an Irish citizen who will, like hundreds of thousands of others, be trapped in a post-Brexit scenario against our will. I note the Minister of State's remarks about the common travel area and rights in that regard continuing to be upheld. However, we must acknowledge, even before Brexit, that Irish citizens in the North are being taken to court by the British Home Office by dint of their asserting their right under the Good Friday Agreement to be Irish. With the greatest of respect and full awareness of the importance of tempering our remarks, we need to get real on the citizenship issue. That is why some of the proposed Committee Stage amendments are of such crucial importance in asserting, fulfilling and living up to our obligations under the Good Friday Agreement. To those who claim the British Government is serious about upholding the Good Friday Agreement in a post-Brexit scenario, I suggest it is not upholding it now as Irish citizens are being taken to court by the British Home Office for merely wanting to exercise the democratic right afforded to them under the agreement.

I will not prolong this process as we must get this legislation passed in these Houses. While I accept that there will be differences of opinion on our amendments, Sinn Féin will work collaboratively, in the best interests of the Irish people, North and South, with Government colleagues and colleagues in all parties and none in this House. I accept Senator McDowell's word when he says he was not having a go at Sinn Féin. I believe him when he says that. However, it is worth stating ever increasing numbers of people are turning away from Westminster and looking to institutions on this island and in Brussels because they accept that Westminster, as has been proved, is not serving their interests.Westminster is not working for their betterment, their well-being or their welfare. It is entirely right and within the context of the Good Friday Agreement that people would look once again to Ireland to serve Irish interests, North and South. Let us forget about whether or not Sinn Féin takes its seats in Westminster: we have had that argument many times. The North has just been denied two European Parliament seats, so we have lost that voice also. We do not have the ability to have our MPs speaking in these Houses, which is another opportunity lost to us. Citizens are deeply concerned, which we discovered last week when the Brexit committee visited Belfast. I hope that this will go some way to reassuring them.