Seanad debates

Tuesday, 1 October 2019

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements

 

2:30 pm

Photo of Ned O'SullivanNed O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am saying nothing about any particular party. We all know who is involved. Political self-interest seems always to come before the interests of the community. The politicians in the North will not be thanked by business people and farmers there. In the long run, they will not be thanked by the electorate.

I wish the Tánaiste well in the continuing negotiations. To some extent, the future of the Government is heavily dependent on the outcome. More important, the future of our economy and peace on this island are dependent on it. We have lately seen a resurgence in paramilitary activity in Derry and other counties in the North. There are still people who believe violence is the way forward and it will not take them long to jump into the political vacuum being created by an inactive Assembly. We had an example recently of paramilitary violence when a businessman was brutally beaten in Fermanagh. That type of violence is always ready to raise its ugly head. My party agrees with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste that we cannot afford to compromise on the Good Friday Agreement. As far as we are concerned, it is sacred. It underpins everything we do in respect of Brexit and in regard to the North. I wish the Tánaiste well in his continued endeavours and look forward with eager anticipation to new developments.

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