Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join in the welcome to my neighbour, the Minister of State, and the general commendation of her great work and tenacity in this area. It is becoming more problematic by the hour but if the vote is not won tonight, we all have to hope that a crash-out, no-deal Brexit will be ruled out tomorrow. That has to be the next best hope if the vote fails tonight. At that point, the onus remains on us, as is the objective of today's legislation, which I support, to protect the Good Friday Agreement and all its elements, and to protect as much co-operation between the UK and the Republic of Ireland as is conceivably possible. There is a commitment in the protocol to the protection of the agreement. There is also a commitment to the common travel area and various bilateral arrangements but this will hopefully actualise those. Fundamental rights are guaranteed in the protocol.

If there is a crash-out, Ireland and the EU will have a responsibility to protect the Single Market and customs union. The UK will be affected by the requirements of the WTO. All of those situations will have to be considered by respective governments. It was clear in last night's commitments and from talk in this House and elsewhere that the backstop is not intended as a threat to the UK. It is purely, as has been well plotted out, an insurance policy. There are sinister elements in the UK and, tragically, on this land, who are trying to misconstrue that. Let us call a spade a spade, since people are debating this question whose particular personal and family circumstances are such that they, their offspring or extended families could never be affected by the outcome, even if it was negative. They are insulated by considerable wealth and that makes their behaviour all the more reprehensible and unacceptable.

I would like to once again take a cursory look at the implications of a no-deal Brexit. That is a malign scenario that none of us wants. I do not believe it will arise because tomorrow will prevent that, and it will play out quite differently. None of us wants to contemplate that and nobody here seriously believes that will happen. There are a few stark statistics. Out of our entire export of services from this island, worth €101 billion, 18%, or approximately €18 billion, goes to the UK. Of €112 billion of goods exported from this island, €15.6 billion or 13.9% goes to the UK. Meat or beef comprises €1.9 billion, dairy products, €800 million and pharmaceuticals, €1.5 billion in trade between here and the UK. Visits from the UK comprise 41% of trips to Ireland. Those implications are national and I gather that it would take €1 billion out of the agriculture industry immediately.

I ask Members to contemplate the horrific implications for the Border region. The Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, is acutely familiar with a region bordering her own home, in Cavan-Monaghan, and along the Border. The implications are beyond horrendous because of the many trading links and the passage of goods, North and South. There is a matter my good friend, Senator Richmond, had to listen to repeatedly when I went to London and which I cite as a classic example.In Bailieborough, the small town in which I live, Lakeland Dairies provides approximately 300 jobs. Some 56% of its milk is sourced north of the Border. Were there to be a hard Brexit, that would have to be processed in the new LacPatrick Dairies arrangement north of the Border. The locks could be put on the town of Bailieborough if Lakeland Dairies were removed from it. This is just one typical example which repeats itself in every village and town along the Border with various trading links involving the cattle industry, the milk industry, the pig industry where pigs are going North to be processed, Carton Brothers in Shercock, etc. The implications in that area are enormous. It merits repeating that it is our responsibility to try to avoid it and we are collectively doing our best.

We have achieved a few good things. The European Commission has announced an increased in the ceiling for national support to farmers from €15,000 to €25,000. That progress is to be applauded. It will be necessary in all scenarios and particularly in the bad ones. This year's budget allocated €78 million to protect business against Brexit. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, has spearheaded a getting-Brexit-ready information campaign across the country with 2,500 people having availed of the expertise there. Revenue has engaged with 80,000 businesses on their customs obligations.

The Bill makes a number of provisions. It provides for health services operating North and South across the Border, with paediatrics coming to Dublin, etc. That is an important sphere. The single electricity market remains important and is protected by this legislation. Student grants and student exchanges from one country to the other are covered. Pensions are critical. I know many people living on a UK pension, including a first cousin of mine. It is so important that those are provided for.

In summary I would make a few points.