Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I came in towards the end of Senator Currie's contribution. It was powerful and very much on the money.This is an appropriate and timely motion. Unfortunately, we are going through the worst pandemic in our lifetime or that of our parents. In terms of the public psyche, the problem is that there will be a loss of understanding of Brexit and of the stark reality of it because people are rightly caught up in managing their lives through this pandemic. However, Brexit is looming and it is most regrettable that the British Government is behaving in an aggressive, unparliamentary manner in its handling of this legislation. It goes against everything we stand for as a Parliament and everything most British politicians stand for. Most British politicians across the board are proud, honourable people who are in politics for the right reasons, that is, to serve their communities and make their country and the world a better place.

There is a cohort within the Conservative Party who do not think like that. They are deluded in the belief that the sun never sets on the British empire and in the attitude that they can negotiate trade deals with everybody and anybody and all of these parties will want to negotiate with the British Government. They may be in for a rude awakening because I do not believe they have the same standing throughout the world that they thought they had a few decades ago. They have certainly eroded any goodwill that may have existed towards them in other countries. The last thing that anybody internationally likes to see is the breach of an international agreement. There are what could be described as international understandings, international protocols and international decency and what is going through the House of Commons flies in the face of international decency and the realm of international law, doing the right thing and honouring one's commitments. In this country it is done by a handshake; internationally by signing agreements. Many of them are willingly and openly admitting that they want to do this, which flies in the face of all the type of behaviour that defines us and past generations and, we would like to think, the generations going forward.

We had in this Chamber a very good Brexit committee, chaired by our former colleague, Deputy Richmond. I am unsure if it is the plan of the House to reinstate this committee but I think it would be a good idea because this Chamber has always prided itself on debating such issues in great detail. We can play our part in the discourse on Brexit by reinstating that committee. With the Cathaoirleach's international contacts, particularly in the United States, we could look at bringing experts from abroad to help us, especially after 1 January, when we move into that new phase.

It would be remiss of me not to welcome my good friend, colleague and Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, who is in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. I know he is working extremely hard, has a significant intellect and would be very much on top of his brief, particularly in the area of the diaspora. Deputy Brophy thinks globally, has a business background and is the right man to be in the Department with the Minister, Deputy Coveney, dealing with matters on behalf of the people of this country in what is probably the most difficult time in our international history in terms of trade and business.