Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am sorry I was not in my seat when my turn arrived.

I welcome two young men from Cork, namely, Ben Quigley and Adam Hallissey, both of whom are authors with progressivebrief.com. They are both students from Cork. The blog progressivebrief.comcontains political commentary.It is wonderful to see people from university here. My colleague, Senator Buttimer, will agree with me that is good to see young people in college engaged in political comment and I welcome them.

I also want to welcome my fellow county people from the Presentation Convent, Tuam, County Galway, as it is always good to see a Galway representation here. The ladies are welcome today and I hope they enjoy Leinster House.

As for Brexit and the current position, I again compliment the Government on the way it has behaved itself right through the Brexit negotiations to this point in time, where the last thing we need are leaks. Thankfully, nobody on this side of the country is providing these. As we draw closer, there is a possibility that some of our brothers and sisters on the unionist side may feel that they are being hard done by. I am unsure what way things will work out but listening and watching Sky News this morning, there is a possibility that there will have to be a change to the position that gave the unionists the level of comfort they think they currently have. We must be extremely careful because there are young men and women in Northern Ireland who may not take that too well. For that reason in particular, I compliment the Government in being extremely sensitive. It is a very dangerous time in our history. I ask that we maintain the level of secrecy, if one wishes to call it that, as we lead up to the final days of whatever will emerge. I hope, as I know everybody in this House does, that we will finish up with a deal that will satisfy all sides. There can be no winners here. It has to be an agreed solution.