Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I beg the indulgence of the Cathaoirleach to mark the passing of our political colleague, Councillor Michael "Stroke" Fahy from Ardrahan. He was a Fianna Fáil candidate in the Gort-Kinvara electoral area. Our colleague, Senator Boyhan, visited him in hospital quite recently. He was a wonderful public representative who represented the area for four decades. His name came up many times over the last years. I pay deep sympathy to his family on the sad and very sudden death of a great public representative and friend to all of us in the Seanad.

The developing situation in Westminster is a very moving subject. This last stand by Prime Minister May might work, calling on the leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, and the Labour Party, to act in the national interest, as Fianna Fáil is doing in the confidence and supply agreement to ensure that we have a Government here. The leader of the party gave a commitment because of the Brexit situation. He was not going to precipitate a general election. It is a good example to our colleagues in Westminster, to show how a democratic state can operate in a crisis. It is vital that, on 12 April, Britain exits the European Union in an orderly way. That is the most that we can hope for at this point. It will then enter into meaningful negotiations regarding the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom, with deep concern about the Border, Republic of Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement. That is the way forward. I am hopeful that the national interest will be taken on board. They can deal politically with the fallout from that. If the Prime Minister gets that deal signed, sealed and delivered through the House of Commons before 12 April, then it can move on in a positive and orderly manner. Talking about referendums and such at this point is not practical. There is a way out. The Brexiteers and non-Brexiteers may unite in the national interest to return sanity to the House of Commons and agree to this Brexit deal which has been negotiated by the European Union and United Kingdom in good faith and should be ratified by the Westminster Parliament.