Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

From their point of view it is a British border. We have been hearing so much that little phrase "the Irish Border" and it has really been bothering me because it is from people who insist it is actually a British Border. For them, it is a border with the United Kingdom. They never mention the British side. It is that old truism that if athletes from Northern Ireland do well they are regarded as British and if they do badly they are regarded by British people as Irish. While this may seem a somewhat frivolous point, nonetheless the language shows the dismissive attitude by so many pro-Brexiteers on the reality of the very serious issues of the Border. Conveniently, it also disregards the fact the British Government has commitments under the Good Friday Agreement and completely sidesteps those commitments and legally binding responsibilities on the British Government by referring to it as an Irish Border and an Irish problem. The current British Government is downplaying its own significant legal role and responsibility. This is a very serious point.

I listened carefully to what Senator Black had to say about a border poll.If a no-deal happens, it will clearly bring forward much more strongly the case for reunification on the island. It is a very obvious point. I have been reading Seamus Mallon's autobiography and both he and Andy Pollak, with whom he wrote it, make some very interesting points about how one could move forward with the many considerations that would have to be taken on board in any move in that direction. There has been increased interest among business leaders, North and South, in the issue. It is something about which we will have to think very carefully, but it is a very sensitive point.

A further observation about developments this week in Britain is that what we have seen in the language from the Westminster parliament has been very distressing. Misogyny and contempt were displayed for women MPs in the Labour Party who raised serious concerns about safety and the incendiary language Prime Minister Johnson and others were using in speaking about "betrayal" and "surrender" and the way in which they were dismissed. For many of us, particularly in the Labour Party, it was really distressing to hear Jo Cox's name being used by the British Prime Minister in this manner and dismissing the concerns of friends and colleagues of hers about their safety. On the other hand, many of us who read the full text of the unanimous judgment of the 11 members of the British Supreme Court given by Baroness Hale could not but have been heartened by the clear accessible, rational and sensible language used in it.

Another heartening development has been the defection of the 21 Tory remainers who broke ranks, at some cost to themselves in many cases, and have stood out against a no-deal scenario.

As I explained and as party leader, Deputy Howlin, has said, we believe the British non-paper proposals are completely unacceptable. We will stand in support of the importance of the backstop. We have been doing all we can - both Deputy Howlin and Senator Nash were present at the British Labour Party conference in the past week to press their British Labour Party colleagues - to ensure they will put forward a proposal for a fresh referendum of the people, with the option to remain on the ballot paper. It is very heartening to hear Keir Starmer say very clearly today that the proposals made in the non-paper are unacceptable to him and the British Labour Party and restate the commitment to hold a second referendum. These developments are very welcome. He stated the proposals were utterly unworkable and would represent a rolling back on commitments made two years ago to ensure there would be no return to a hard border. He called it another failure of the British Government's negotiating strategy and argued that the issue should be put to the people again in a public vote. We have been pressing and using any influence we have, as I know other colleagues have been doing, to ensure this will be position put forward very strongly by the British Labour Party.

Finally, the Government and all of us must do all we can to protect jobs and ensure there will be a sustainable and lasting peace on the island. None of us wanted to see Brexit happen and we still do not. If there was any way to avoid it happening at all, it would be infinitely preferable. However, if it is to happen, clearly the best possible way for it to happen is with the withdrawal agreenment and the backstop in place as our approach in Ireland. We support that position.