Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Often we stand in the Chamber and make political charges against each other. We spark off each other and this is the way of political theatre. In light of what the British Government is apparently proposing as a solution to its Brexit problem, the Houses of the Oireachtas must stand firm as a collective. It is deeply upsetting to everybody in Ireland to witness what is happening in the United Kingdom. One can only use words that Boris Johnson has used and describe the proposal as complete humbug. Twenty years ago, the British Government signed a sacred peace agreement after 30 years of violence and more than 3,000 deaths. All of us, Irish, British, Northern Irish, unionist and nationalist, said we would never again return to a scenario that would lead to violence. Less than 20 years later, the British Government has thrown that agreement in the fire and considers English nationalism to be much more important and that a small cabal in the British Tory Party had to be placated. The lack of knowledge among the British commentariat, public and political system and, particularly, the Tory party about the sensitivities of this island and what happened here is quite astonishing. Within all of this, for Boris Johnson to use words of war in his common discourse is deeply offensive. He has used phrases and words such as dying in a ditch, surrender and traitors. It is deeply offensive given what has happened in this country. On behalf of the Labour Party and, I am quite sure, other parties in the Chamber I say we stand firmly behind the Taoiseach and Tánaiste in their absolute rejection of the proposals coming from the British Government. These proposals are coming from an entity that has no interest in a deal. While we spend a huge number of hours disagreeing in this Chamber, on this day of days, as we head towards 31 October and the British Prime Minister addresses his party conference, we must call out this nonsense for what it is. It is a result of narrow-minded xenophobic English nationalism and the Oireachtas will not accept it. It will stand up for the Good Friday Agreement and peace and prosperity on this island and throughout Europe.