Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to say this if I may, because I am in my last minute. As far as I am concerned, we need a different approach to Northern Ireland. I commend Senator Black on her comments. It is not good enough any more to simply talk in vague terms about a border poll. That is counterproductive and useless. I took the trouble to develop the question of what could be at issue in a border poll in the recent Kennedy Summer School discussion of this matter, which was a very useful and positive discussion. Members can look at my website if they are interested. I prepared a paper for use on that occasion and in all humility, I ask Members of this House to take a look at it and see if it merits some consideration. There is no point in talking about border polls, pursuing the abstentionist policy or leaving Stormont empty as a general strategy. We have to get institutions going in this country in order that decent people of all persuasions in Northern Ireland can get their viewpoints across on this issue.

I will finish by saying that as far as I am concerned we would be very foolish to play along with what the Johnson administration in England is doing to fool its own people. I do not believe that Dominic Cummings has any agenda for a real deal. I believe that Government wants to create a situation where there is no deal. It will move heaven and earth, if it can, to circumvent the so-called Benn Act and bring about a no-deal situation because that is where its heart really lies. If it gets the UK to crash out it will use the Irish angle, the economic, social and political pressure that will exist, as grounds to try to negotiate a better deal in the UK's future trading relationship with the EU. That has been its strategy all along.