Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Language is important and we have all learned a new language during the past two years of negotiations. There is a dangerous air of the unknown about the coming weeks and months. The language used last night in Strasbourg has made things considerably less clear regarding the withdrawal agreement or any changes to the backstop. We still await a vote in the UK House of Commons tonight and a further vote tomorrow. We still have no idea what a disorderly Brexit might be like. We have no idea how anything will be until 30 March, which is troubling. We must, therefore, prepare for a massive unknown.

I know all of us here want the same. We all want to avoid disruption and unnecessary arguments. However, we all need to be clear that we need to ensure we have made preparations just in case. Although there has been some speed here, it is disappointing that there are only five sitting days until 29 March and thus no time to properly scrutinise or analyse the Bill to ensure it is as robust as it should be.Other countries such as France and the Netherlands published their Brexit legislation months ago. We, who have such an interest, should have had ours done some time ago.

As the time is now, however, it is right and proper that we debate this single omnibus Bill made up of 15 Parts relating to matters within the remit of nine Ministers. I am heartened to see the strong co-operation across the House to move the Bill forward. I commend the civil servants and staff of each of the Ministers on the important and technical job they have done. Fianna Fáil will do all it can to facilitate the passage of this Bill and to ensure this emergency legislation is in place as required. The Bill prioritises issues we need to urgently address but, unfortunately, it cannot fully protect us from the havoc a no-deal Brexit would wreak on our trading relationship with the UK, our all-island economy and the peace process.

It is clear that, in addition to this Bill, the industries and sectors most exposed to Brexit need additional support and financial aid. Thousands of jobs are on the line and businesses and SMEs need much greater support and assistance than the Government has offered to date. The time for waiting and seeing what happens has long passed. There is no room for complacency when it comes to safeguarding jobs and our economic prosperity. The Bill, which would reduce the possibility of a serious disturbance in the economy of the State and the sound functioning of a number of market sectors and fields of State as a result of a disorderly Brexit is, therefore, urgent and most important.

Some 100 years ago, our founding fathers and mothers fought for a better future and we must fight for a better future for all - the future that our ancestors wished for. It is vital that we have a proper plan. Historically, we have not been great at master plans. We learn as we go and, as a nation, we behave as if we have not been here for a long time. We deny our true strengths. We should be incredibly proud of our unique position in Europe as the only nation formed in the aftermath of the First World War with a continuous 100 years of parliamentary diplomacy, without occupation or dictatorship.

As friends of the UK, we must allow for space but, by the same token, we must protect ourselves. Yes, we are protected by our friends in Europe but there are worrying times ahead, politically and economically. I am concerned about the small details. I am certain everyone who has worked on this has tried to think of all the scenarios but there are always situations where unintended consequences arise out of the best plans. No matter what happens in the days to come, I am deeply concerned about the added pressures on the housing stock, as well as the potential for huge barriers to trade and tariffs on goods. I worry about the disruption of the supply chain of materials needed for construction and the knock-on effect of increased costs and delays in construction. Anything which may impact on the delivery of housing, public or private, or potential additional demands on the current housing stock is a massive cause for concern. What are the financial implications arising from the Bill if additional money is required and where will it come from? The haulage industry still has no clarity on the situation with regard to non-Irish drivers needing to cross the landbridge. Drivers are still confused about what will be required of them should they venture to Northern Ireland in their own cars.

The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have jointly leveraged Exchequer funding to create a €300 million loan scheme for businesses impacted by Brexit, with 40% of the funding ring-fenced for the food sector. However, the latest parliamentary question replies released show that out of 42 eligible applications from food companies, just eight were approved for finance under this loan scheme. The Minister of State should address this point. Shockingly, this means just one in five eligible loan applications for the sector have actually been approved for funding worth €3.8 million. Worse still, this equates to just over 1% of the total €300 million loan scheme having been approved for food companies so far.

Worryingly, we are over two and a half years on from the Brexit referendum and the Government continues to refuse to request at EU level the temporary relaxation of state aid competition rules in order to ready grant support schemes to safeguard exposed Irish export enterprises and jobs that will be impacted by a hard Brexit. Fianna Fáil has consistently called for an enterprise stabilisation fund and employment support scheme to be made available to the worst affected firms as a policy response to protect from the impact of a hard Brexit.An incredible amount of issues would be worsened in the event of a crash-out Brexit. This Bill prepares us for many things, but not for everything. We cannot legislate for everything so we must see the Bill as the beginning. We will learn a great deal from these uncertain times but I believe we will be scarred by this lesson. This is very important for Ireland and our economy. We need more information and there must be more awareness. Numerous people and businesses have come to my clinics to ask me what we are doing. Perhaps the Minister of State will clarify some of those issues.