:00:34. > :01:07.We wish to welcome the members of both houses and Mr Michel Barnier to
:01:08. > :01:15.this sitting and joint committee. Members will know he is the chief
:01:16. > :01:19.negotiator of the task force for negotiations with the United
:01:20. > :01:57.Kingdom. I accordingly invite him to take his seat in the chamber.
:01:58. > :02:20.The decision, Monsieur Barnier, by the UK last year to withdraw from
:02:21. > :02:26.the European Union will have a profound impact on Europe and on its
:02:27. > :02:31.citizens. It it also raises a number of specific and important issues
:02:32. > :02:35.that are unique to Ireland. For instance, concerns have been raised
:02:36. > :02:40.about its impact on Northern Ireland and the peace process as well as its
:02:41. > :02:45.impact on the Common travel area between Ireland and the United
:02:46. > :02:50.Kingdom. Since the formal notification on the 29th of March
:02:51. > :02:54.2017 of the UK's intention to withdraw, preparations for the start
:02:55. > :02:58.of the negotiations have intensified. As members will be
:02:59. > :03:01.aware, the European Council agreed guidelines for the first phase of
:03:02. > :03:05.negotiations on the 29th of April of this year and last week, the
:03:06. > :03:10.European Commission published its draft negotiating directives. Our
:03:11. > :03:15.exchange of views today is therefore timely and we hope it would
:03:16. > :03:19.contribute positively to the preparations for the negotiations.
:03:20. > :03:25.Let me also say that I firmly believe that they's sitting
:03:26. > :03:28.demonstrates how national parliaments can contribute
:03:29. > :03:33.effectively to public debate on matters of concern to the union,
:03:34. > :03:38.which is of course one of the principal objectives of article 12
:03:39. > :03:42.of the treaty. Monsieur Barnier, we are conscious of the challenging
:03:43. > :03:46.road ahead. We wish you and your task force well in your important
:03:47. > :03:51.work, and it is our sincere hope that an agreement can be reached
:03:52. > :03:58.which protects the principles of the union and the interests of the
:03:59. > :04:02.member states asked maintaining a strong relationship with the United
:04:03. > :04:04.Kingdom. With those few thoughts, may I invite you now to address our
:04:05. > :04:30.sitting. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for
:04:31. > :04:43.your kind words and congratulations on your perfect French.
:04:44. > :04:53.The speakers, I am very happy and honoured to address both houses and
:04:54. > :05:00.to greet you as the representatives of the people of Ireland in all your
:05:01. > :05:05.political diversity. I take this on as a responsibility, the
:05:06. > :05:10.responsibility to listen to all those who will be affected by the
:05:11. > :05:18.decision of the UK to leave the European Union. The responsibility
:05:19. > :05:27.to listen to your concerns, build our positions together, negotiate in
:05:28. > :05:31.our common interests and the responsibility to explain that we
:05:32. > :05:45.need each other, the Ireland is stronger in the union and the EU is
:05:46. > :05:47.stronger with Ireland. Your country has honour honour deep historical,
:05:48. > :05:55.cultural and intellectual ties to continental Europe for many
:05:56. > :06:02.centuries. In the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, Irish colleges were
:06:03. > :06:10.set up around Europe, from Madrid, where I was yesterday, to Paris,
:06:11. > :06:13.Rome and Prague. They contributed to writing the history of Ireland and
:06:14. > :06:21.the history of Europe. And they spread Irish culture to the
:06:22. > :06:27.continent. Centuries later in 1972, the people of Ireland massively
:06:28. > :06:37.voted to take part in the European project. At that time, I was 21,
:06:38. > :06:44.last century. France had a referendum on the accession of
:06:45. > :06:52.Irish, the UK, Denmark and Norway. It was my very first vote. I
:06:53. > :06:59.campaign for a yes vote for the UK's AC session back then, voting yes was
:07:00. > :07:07.not so easy for a member of the French Gaullist party. But I did it
:07:08. > :07:15.with my full heart, and I never regretted it. I regret that Brexit
:07:16. > :07:20.is happening now. I would have liked to have seen the UK staying in
:07:21. > :07:32.Europe with Irish and all the 26 other member states. But we are
:07:33. > :07:37.where we are. Since 1972, we have accomplished great things together.
:07:38. > :07:44.The European Union has helped Ireland become what it is today. And
:07:45. > :07:57.Irish has a than strengthened our union. The Irish people are known as
:07:58. > :08:02.hard-working and open-minded. Their membership has a chance to modernise
:08:03. > :08:07.their economy and society. We see this now in innovative companies and
:08:08. > :08:14.in the creation of new jobs. Investors seek Irish as being
:08:15. > :08:21.central in the European market, not peripheral. And we see it across
:08:22. > :08:26.Irish cities, towns and villages. They have been enriched by fellow
:08:27. > :08:37.Europeans who have come here to work, study, travel and live. Seamus
:08:38. > :08:48.Heaney said to mark the enlargement of the EU in 2004 "Oh on a day when
:08:49. > :08:53.newcomers appear, let it be welcoming and let us speak, move
:08:54. > :09:07.lips, move minds and make new meanings flyer". Irish has welcomed,
:09:08. > :09:13.like you welcomed 30 years earlier. Ladies and gentlemen, 444 years,
:09:14. > :09:23.Irish people have shaped Europe. They have helped turn Europe into a
:09:24. > :09:25.more open and innovative continent. Ireland's first European Commission,
:09:26. > :09:31.Patrick Hillary, played a major role in improving inequality between
:09:32. > :09:36.women and men before serving as your president. Another Irish
:09:37. > :09:44.Commissioner, Peter Sutherland, supported the creation of the single
:09:45. > :09:50.market and establish the Erasmus programme, bringing young Europeans
:09:51. > :09:59.closer together for 30 years now and showing what free movement of people
:10:00. > :10:04.really means. Today, Phil organ is in charge of developing the European
:10:05. > :10:09.Union's most complete economic policy, the Common Agricultural
:10:10. > :10:23.Policy. And for my part, I am proud to have been minister of the farmers
:10:24. > :10:28.and fishermen in my own country. Some in large countries with
:10:29. > :10:36.imperial pasts, like my own, seem to think that the EU makes them
:10:37. > :10:41.smaller. This is simply not true. In smaller countries, people are often
:10:42. > :10:51.more aware that being part of the EU increases influence and
:10:52. > :10:54.opportunities. And being part of a common project does not prevent a
:10:55. > :11:01.country from keeping its own identity and making a name for
:11:02. > :11:05.itself in the world, as Enda Kenny reminded us all in his excellent St
:11:06. > :11:17.Patrick's Day speech in Washington. Pooling national sovereignty
:11:18. > :11:22.increases our European sovereignty, because EU citizens of all countries
:11:23. > :11:29.can study, work, settle down in another member state and be treated
:11:30. > :11:34.like nationals. European consumers can access high-quality food and
:11:35. > :11:39.agricultural products from across the EU because they all meet strict
:11:40. > :11:51.standards. Suppliers do not have to worry about border checks. Because
:11:52. > :11:58.they are part of the call without roaming charges as if they are
:11:59. > :12:03.calling from home. Airlines, whatever member state they come
:12:04. > :12:11.from, can offer direct flights between any two EU airports. They
:12:12. > :12:19.can rely on our open skies agreement with the US, the EU has made travel
:12:20. > :12:23.easier. And Irish airlines have been among the first to take advantage of
:12:24. > :12:31.these benefits and have profoundly change the market. I experienced it
:12:32. > :12:39.first hand myself when I flew to Dublin yesterday night on a rather
:12:40. > :12:58.well-known low-cost carrier. Still no coffee, but a little bit more
:12:59. > :13:02.seat space than before. Little bit. Honourable members, being together
:13:03. > :13:08.makes us all stronger. Because we are part of the EU, businesses can
:13:09. > :13:12.trade goods without customs duties and documentation requirements are
:13:13. > :13:21.very simple. As part of the EU single market, companies and rely on
:13:22. > :13:28.fairer competition and a level playing field. Because the EU has
:13:29. > :13:37.consistently put in place high levels of environmental protection,
:13:38. > :13:40.citizens enjoy cleaner air and water and governments can resist a race to
:13:41. > :13:47.the bottom and fight climate change more effectively together. EU
:13:48. > :13:53.companies have privileged access to 60 foreign markets, such as South
:13:54. > :14:01.Korea, Vietnam and recently Canada. Thanks to the free trade agreements
:14:02. > :14:06.negotiated at the EU level. Banks, insurance and investment funds can
:14:07. > :14:11.provide services in the whole single market, based on their establishment
:14:12. > :14:17.here in Dublin, thanks to the so-called passporting writes.
:14:18. > :14:24.Because they are part of the EU, judges can rely on the European
:14:25. > :14:27.arrest warrant. It ensures the rapid treatment of requests for
:14:28. > :14:31.surrendering suspected criminals from another member state to bring
:14:32. > :14:39.them to justice. Because they are part of the EU, universities receive
:14:40. > :14:49.funding for research and innovation. They form one of the widest academic
:14:50. > :14:56.networks in the world. As a union member, this is what we enjoy. And
:14:57. > :15:02.it is what a member state loses when it leaves the EU. This is what we
:15:03. > :15:09.enjoy and it is what a member state loses Barnier when it leaves the
:15:10. > :15:19.union. Barnier But let me be clear. Brexit will come at a cost, also to
:15:20. > :15:23.us, the 27. I am fully aware that some member states will be more
:15:24. > :15:29.affected by others and as chief negotiator, my objective is to reach
:15:30. > :15:38.a fair deal, a deal that defends the interests of the entire EU, but also
:15:39. > :15:43.those of individual member states. Because of its historical and
:15:44. > :15:50.geographical ties with the UK, because of your shared border and
:15:51. > :16:02.strong economic links, Ireland is in the unique position. Brexit is
:16:03. > :16:09.already having an impact on the value of Irish exports to the UK, in
:16:10. > :16:20.particular the food sector. Many in Ireland fear the return of tensions
:16:21. > :16:27.in the north. Today, in front of these two houses, I want to reassure
:16:28. > :16:32.the Irish people that in this negotiation, Ireland's interests
:16:33. > :16:42.will be the union interests. We are in this negotiation together and are
:16:43. > :16:47.united EU will be here for you. Tomorrow, I will travel to the
:16:48. > :16:53.border with Northern Ireland. I will meet farmers and workers in a dairy
:16:54. > :16:57.cooperative. I want to learn from them and listen to the concerns
:16:58. > :17:05.about how they are affected by Brexit. Some might be concerned
:17:06. > :17:11.about exports to the UK, or by the return of custom checks at the
:17:12. > :17:16.border. Others might fear a return to the instability of the past. In
:17:17. > :17:25.Northern Ireland, lifting the borders took time. Only 15 years ago
:17:26. > :17:34.did checkpoints and controls totally disappear. Thanks to the Good Friday
:17:35. > :17:38.agreement that ended decades of violence I was the European
:17:39. > :17:44.Commissioner in charge of the peace programme. I have not forgotten my
:17:45. > :17:52.conversations with John Hume and David Trimble at that point. So I
:17:53. > :17:55.understand the union's role in strengthening dialogue in Northern
:17:56. > :18:00.Ireland and supporting the Good Friday agreement. European
:18:01. > :18:04.integration helped remove borders that once existed in maps and in
:18:05. > :18:21.minds. I will work with you to avoid a hard
:18:22. > :18:26.border. The UK's departure from the EU will have consequences. We have a
:18:27. > :18:32.duty to speak the truth. We have together the duty to speak the
:18:33. > :18:37.truth. Some controls are part of the EU border management. They protect
:18:38. > :18:48.the single market. They protect our food safety and our standards. But
:18:49. > :18:53.as I already said so many times, nothing in the negotiation should
:18:54. > :19:01.put peace at risk. Nothing. It was recognised by the 27 head of states
:19:02. > :19:06.and governments two weeks ago. There were very clear that the Good Friday
:19:07. > :19:19.Agreement must be respected in all its dimensions, all its dimensions.
:19:20. > :19:26.The border issue will be one of my three priorities for the
:19:27. > :19:29.negotiations, together with citizens' rights and the financial
:19:30. > :19:32.settlement. We must first make sufficient progress on these points
:19:33. > :19:38.before we start discussing the future of our relationship with the
:19:39. > :19:46.UK. The sooner this will happen, the better. If the conditions are right,
:19:47. > :19:59.a close partnership with the UK is in everybody's interests. And in
:20:00. > :20:04.Ireland's interests, in particular. Currently Ireland exports 14% of
:20:05. > :20:07.goods and 20% of its services to the UK a, this is twice the EU average,
:20:08. > :20:25.twice. Of course such facts must be put
:20:26. > :20:31.into perspective. Before Ireland's accession to the EU, Ireland
:20:32. > :20:35.accounted for 50 of the trade. Today Ireland exports more to the other
:20:36. > :20:38.countries than to the UK and the single market is a key asset for
:20:39. > :20:43.your financial and pharmaceutical industry. Still, the specific issue
:20:44. > :20:50.that you face deserves all our attention. Once again, Ireland
:20:51. > :21:04.shares a land border with the UK and most of its trade to the EU goes
:21:05. > :21:12.through the UK. This is why I've engaged with Dail, the Senate as
:21:13. > :21:14.well as you will at members of the Irish EU Parliament immediately
:21:15. > :21:19.after taking up my position. Ireland has done remarkable preparatory
:21:20. > :21:26.work. Remarkable. We have to use our combined strength together. We are
:21:27. > :21:32.working to deliver solutions. I want to listen to the concerns of the
:21:33. > :21:41.Irish people but I also want to pass on the message of hope and
:21:42. > :21:45.determination. For all the problems it creates, Brexit also rep minds us
:21:46. > :21:51.of what the EU has builting together. What each of us enjoys as
:21:52. > :21:58.new citizens and how we can further improve the European project. The EU
:21:59. > :22:06.is not perfect. We know that and President Juncker put it candidly
:22:07. > :22:14.this week. There are lessons to draw from the crisis. Not only in
:22:15. > :22:18.Ireland. There are lessons to draw from Brexit, from the rising scores
:22:19. > :22:24.of the populist parties in many countries, including mine. Let's not
:22:25. > :22:31.confuse public opinion with populism. We should listen to
:22:32. > :22:41.people's feeling and respond with policy change. This is how we will
:22:42. > :22:45.fight populism. Just because, honourable member, I'm convinced
:22:46. > :22:52.that Ireland will play a major role in these changes, as a centre for
:22:53. > :22:57.innovation, as a strong and sustainable agri-food producer, as a
:22:58. > :23:03.bridge across the Atlantic, as a supporter of the future relationship
:23:04. > :23:10.that we need to build with the UK. Our objective is clear - we want, we
:23:11. > :23:19.want these negotiations to succeed. I want us to reach a deal, the UK
:23:20. > :23:30.has been a member of the EU for 44 years. It should remain a close
:23:31. > :23:34.partner. But it will need to negotiate a bold, ambition but also
:23:35. > :23:40.fair free trade agreement. We will also need the same ambition for our
:23:41. > :23:43.research and innovation networks and for the fight against climate
:23:44. > :23:50.change. We need the same ambition in foreign
:23:51. > :23:57.policy, in international cooperation and development. 27 years ago,
:23:58. > :24:05.Nelson Mandela spoke in this very room. Just a few months after he was
:24:06. > :24:08.released from jail, he praised Ireland's leadership, within the
:24:09. > :24:15.European community, to maintain strong pressure on the apartheid
:24:16. > :24:29.system in South Africa. Tomorrow, our international partners should be
:24:30. > :24:40.able to turn to the EU and to the UK and find in them, strong and united
:24:41. > :24:49.shared European values. Finally we need to protect our internal and
:24:50. > :24:52.external security. Whether it is the intelligence, the fight against
:24:53. > :25:00.cyber threats or cyber security. If he with put things in the right
:25:01. > :25:11.order, if we negotiate with mutual respect, without any kind of
:25:12. > :25:16.agreesivity and if we are open to fight, there is no reason why a
:25:17. > :25:27.strong Europe can maintain a strong relationship with the UK. Dear
:25:28. > :25:31.speakers, honourable members, I have been myself a parliamentarian for
:25:32. > :25:38.more than 17 years in the French Senate. I will listen carefully to
:25:39. > :25:46.the views of the Taoiseach and of all party leaders. In these
:25:47. > :25:53.negotiations and the public debate that now start, you have, as a
:25:54. > :25:56.national Parliament, a role to play together with the European
:25:57. > :26:02.Parliament and civil society. That is why I have been so honoured by
:26:03. > :26:14.your invitation to address the two Houses of Parliament of Ireland.
:26:15. > :26:36.HE SPEAKS IN GAELIC APPLAUSE
:26:37. > :26:44.Merci, Mr Barnier and thank you for the evaluation of that major
:26:45. > :26:49.challenge that lies ahead I'm pleased to address the House today
:26:50. > :26:54.in the presence of Michel Barnier. I thank you for the statement in which
:26:55. > :26:56.he outlined the complexities of the Brexit negotiations and for his
:26:57. > :27:02.acknowledgement of their response for Europe and of course for
:27:03. > :27:07.Ireland. Michael Barnier is a long-standing friend of this
:27:08. > :27:10.country, not just as a long-standing French politician and Commissioner
:27:11. > :27:15.but as a European Commissioner. His time as Commissioner form regional
:27:16. > :27:18.policy gave him a particular insight to the unique circumstances on the
:27:19. > :27:24.island of Ireland which will be central to the talks ahead. I just
:27:25. > :27:29.want to thank you sincerely for your willingness to engage with Ireland
:27:30. > :27:33.since your apartment as head of the Commission Brexit task force last
:27:34. > :27:37.July. This is your second visit to Dublin since that appointment, but
:27:38. > :27:41.we've also met on other occasions, including on my own visits to
:27:42. > :27:46.Brussels in February and March and of course at the European Council.
:27:47. > :27:51.You and your colleagues at the Brexit task force have been more
:27:52. > :27:55.than cooperative and accessible, to our ministers and senior officials
:27:56. > :27:59.and I know you have also been open to a range of other important
:28:00. > :28:05.stakeholders from Ireland. I thank you for this engagement. The
:28:06. > :28:09.challenges for this country arising from Brexit are extremely serious
:28:10. > :28:15.and it is essential that all those affected have the opportunity to
:28:16. > :28:22.make their voices heard. This has also been the approach of the
:28:23. > :28:25.Government here, along with ongoing sectoral analysis across Government
:28:26. > :28:28.departments, we have engaged widely with industry and civic society,
:28:29. > :28:35.holding almost 280 separate meetings. The all-Ireland civic
:28:36. > :28:41.dialogue which I convened with the minister of foreign affairs and
:28:42. > :28:45.Trade Minister, Flanagan, has concluded 1 sector events, two
:28:46. > :28:47.mreenry meetings with over 1200 delegates representing industries
:28:48. > :28:52.from organisationses from across the country. This kind of consultation
:28:53. > :28:57.has informed our positions on the negotiations, has abled us to public
:28:58. > :29:02.our thinking in the comprehensive Government document last week.
:29:03. > :29:05.Events have moved on quickly since Prime Minister May formally notified
:29:06. > :29:11.the European Union of the UK's invention to leave. The European
:29:12. > :29:17.Council agreed the EU negotiating guidelines on 29th April. And on 3rd
:29:18. > :29:20.May, the European Commission proposed its draft negotiating
:29:21. > :29:25.directives, which built up the guidelines and provide more detail
:29:26. > :29:30.on the issues to be addressed. The extensive preparation by Member
:29:31. > :29:34.States, by the EU institutions, and by Mr Barnier's task force meant
:29:35. > :29:41.that the guidelines were agreed very quickly. This was by no means a
:29:42. > :29:45.given. We know just how complicated and serious the issues are. For
:29:46. > :29:51.Europe as a whole and particularly for Ireland. So, for over two years,
:29:52. > :29:55.the Government has been analysing the issues and engaging with sectors
:29:56. > :30:00.across this island to identify our main areas of concern and to develop
:30:01. > :30:04.our priorities. Some of these have been referred to here by Michel
:30:05. > :30:09.Barnier. These are the protection of the Good Friday agreement and the
:30:10. > :30:13.peace process, including by avoiding a hard border, to retain the common
:30:14. > :30:16.travel area, to minimise the impact on our economy, and to work for a
:30:17. > :30:22.positive future for the European Union. We've also been extremely
:30:23. > :30:26.active at political and official level in engaging with our EU
:30:27. > :30:30.partners and the EU institutions, with a view to highlighting and to
:30:31. > :30:33.explaining the significant implications for Ireland, arising
:30:34. > :30:38.from Brexit, and the need to take account of our particular concerns
:30:39. > :30:43.in the negotiations ahead. Indeed, since the UK referendum last June,
:30:44. > :30:49.we have had over 400 engagements on Brexit, with our EU partners. In all
:30:50. > :30:52.of these meetings, we've explained the background and the context of
:30:53. > :30:56.the Northern Ireland peace process, emphasised the need to avoid the
:30:57. > :31:00.reimposition of a hard bored on the island of Ireland and as I've said
:31:01. > :31:04.before, this is a political challenge, and we will have to be
:31:05. > :31:08.both flexible and imaginative to deal with it But thanks to this
:31:09. > :31:15.strategic impatient work, and the understanding and the support of our
:31:16. > :31:19.European partners, I am pleased that Ireland's specific concerns, Mr
:31:20. > :31:22.Barnier's mentioned this specifically, the unique
:31:23. > :31:26.circumstances that apply here, are fully acknowledged in these
:31:27. > :31:31.guidelines. And supporting and protecting ate chee.s, the benefits
:31:32. > :31:34.and commitments of the peace process, avoiding a hard border,
:31:35. > :31:38.protecting the common travel area will now be addressed as part of the
:31:39. > :31:42.withdrawal negotiations. The guidelines provide an excellent
:31:43. > :31:47.basis for the negotiations, and it was crucial that got this right from
:31:48. > :31:53.the start and again, I would like to thank Mr Barnier for his role in
:31:54. > :31:59.making that happen. In more general terms, we're pleased with the tone
:32:00. > :32:02.of the guidelines, which is open and constructive, while nevertheless
:32:03. > :32:06.clearly and firmly outlining the EU's objectives and principles. They
:32:07. > :32:10.highlight the importance of getting clarity in relation to EU citizens'
:32:11. > :32:15.rights, which is the key issue across Member States, and important
:32:16. > :32:21.in terms of providing certainty for people and for families.
:32:22. > :32:27.The approach to the question of the UK's financial liabilities is also
:32:28. > :32:32.welcome. It is only reasonable that the UK is asked to honour the
:32:33. > :32:37.commitments that it entered into as a member state of the European
:32:38. > :32:42.Union. Mr Barnier's approach to this is sensible, to focus firstly on the
:32:43. > :32:45.principles and methodology before considering the numbers or the
:32:46. > :32:50.structure of payments that might be involved. Importantly from our
:32:51. > :32:55.perspective, the guidelines acknowledge the need for
:32:56. > :32:59.transitional arrangements. This will be crucial in order to provide a
:33:00. > :33:03.level of continuity and certainty both for our citizens and from
:33:04. > :33:07.businesses. As Ireland stands to be more effective than any other member
:33:08. > :33:14.state by the departure of the UK, we believe it is necessary to begin
:33:15. > :33:18.work as soon as possible, and I am glad you referred to this, on
:33:19. > :33:23.scoping out the future EU- UK relationship. I am pleased therefore
:33:24. > :33:28.that the guidelines acknowledge that the shape of the future relationship
:33:29. > :33:32.can be considered once the European Council, that is the head of state
:33:33. > :33:35.and government of the 27 member states, agrees that sufficient
:33:36. > :33:41.progress has been made on the withdrawal issues. This phased
:33:42. > :33:46.approach is also a sensible pragmatic way forward. From
:33:47. > :33:51.Ireland's perspective, our objective is for a close and positive future
:33:52. > :33:55.relationship with the UK, and we are pleased therefore that the
:33:56. > :33:59.guidelines indicate that the EU wants an ambitious agreement, not
:34:00. > :34:03.just in economic terms, but also in areas such as security. We will
:34:04. > :34:10.continue to work with partners to achieve such an outcome. So I
:34:11. > :34:18.welcome the European Council guidelines from a substantive
:34:19. > :34:21.perspective. And also the principles that have been carried forward into
:34:22. > :34:27.the negotiating directives. I appreciate the thorough preparatory
:34:28. > :34:34.work carried out by Mr Barnier and his task force as well as other EU
:34:35. > :34:38.partners, whose willingness to listen to us, to listen to our
:34:39. > :34:41.story, to acknowledge our unique circumstances, has brought us to
:34:42. > :34:45.this point. The outcome is an endorsement of the approach by
:34:46. > :34:49.government and a clear recognition of the specific challenges we face.
:34:50. > :34:56.The government has robustly defended the Good Friday agreement process
:34:57. > :35:02.throughout these negotiations so far, making clear that as a legally
:35:03. > :35:06.binding international treaty, it provides a unique political and
:35:07. > :35:09.constitutional framework on the island of Ireland. We know it was
:35:10. > :35:15.vital to provide reassurance that Brexit does not in any way undermine
:35:16. > :35:21.the Good Friday or any provision of the Good Friday agreement. In that
:35:22. > :35:26.context, we have secured an acknowledgement that in the event of
:35:27. > :35:29.change in the constitutional status of Northern Ireland, brought about
:35:30. > :35:36.in accordance with the principles the Good Friday agreement and the
:35:37. > :35:40.principle of consent, the entire territory of such a united Ireland
:35:41. > :35:45.would be part of the European Union. I have been consistent in my view
:35:46. > :35:49.that now is not the time to have such a referendum on Irish unity and
:35:50. > :35:53.that the conditions set out in the Good Friday agreement for the
:35:54. > :35:58.calling of a border poll do not currently exist. However, the
:35:59. > :36:03.statement agreed by the head of state government of the EU member
:36:04. > :36:07.states which would be recorded in the minutes of the European Council
:36:08. > :36:15.was hugely important in order to dispel any doubt that the UK exit
:36:16. > :36:18.from the European Union would negatively impact on this crucial
:36:19. > :36:26.constitutional provision of the Good Friday agreement. With the EU
:36:27. > :36:30.guidelines now adopted, including the language about our unique
:36:31. > :36:33.concerns, the government last week published a document which reflects
:36:34. > :36:39.the findings of our extensive preparatory work on the island of
:36:40. > :36:42.Ireland and at EU level and outlines the positions and priorities that
:36:43. > :36:46.will underpin our engagement in the Brexit process over the next two
:36:47. > :36:49.years. At EU level, the more detailed draft negotiating
:36:50. > :36:53.directives are now being discussed at ministerial and official level
:36:54. > :36:58.with a view to agreement of the General affairs Corran saw on the
:36:59. > :37:03.22nd of May. These are again broadly positive from the Irish point of
:37:04. > :37:06.view. Mr Barnier and his team have shown that in addition to being open
:37:07. > :37:10.to meet with us, they are also listening to what we have to say,
:37:11. > :37:15.which is why I welcome your decision today. This is important, if the
:37:16. > :37:20.negotiations to proceed in a calm and the way and end up at a point
:37:21. > :37:27.which is as good as possible for all sides. As I said in my stint on
:37:28. > :37:30.Tuesday, it became clear at an early stage of our analysis that the
:37:31. > :37:35.economic impacts of Brexit would be severe. With the EU guidelines now
:37:36. > :37:40.adopted, the government will intensify its focus on the economic
:37:41. > :37:43.indications of Brexit, including on domestic policy measures to protect
:37:44. > :37:48.it from the potential negative impact of Brexit to reinforce the
:37:49. > :37:52.competitiveness of the Irish economy which is so important and also to
:37:53. > :37:58.pursue all opportunities that might arise. In this context, we should
:37:59. > :38:03.also mention that I Ireland will bid for the two other EU bodies
:38:04. > :38:07.currently located in London, the European medicines agency and the
:38:08. > :38:12.European banking authority. I believe Ireland offers an excellent
:38:13. > :38:17.opportunity as a location for these. In conclusion, Brexit is a British
:38:18. > :38:23.policy. It is not an Irish policy and it is not an EU policy. For its
:38:24. > :38:27.part, Ireland remains committed clearly to the European Union and
:38:28. > :38:35.its future. Indeed, a poll published on Europe day this week showed that
:38:36. > :38:41.88% of Irish people agree that Ireland should remain a member of
:38:42. > :38:46.the European Union. Participation and our membership has transformed
:38:47. > :38:51.our country over the last 40 years. So we are committed to playing a
:38:52. > :38:56.strong and active role as a member of the EU 27. We are prepared. We
:38:57. > :38:59.will continue to ensure that our concerns and priorities are
:39:00. > :39:05.reflected in the European Union negotiating position as it evolves.
:39:06. > :39:09.And as we work with our European partners and EU institutions towards
:39:10. > :39:25.a strong and constructive future with our relationship with the
:39:26. > :39:29.United Kingdom. Thank you very much. On behalf of the Fianna Fail party,
:39:30. > :39:33.I thank you for taking the time to address this session in such an
:39:34. > :39:38.effective and competitive manner. Your eagerness to listen and respond
:39:39. > :39:43.to the concerns of Ireland continues an approach seem during the many
:39:44. > :39:49.important roles you have held on the French government and the European
:39:50. > :39:55.Commission. This is not an occasion where we can or should get into the
:39:56. > :39:58.specifics of the negotiations. I am confident that your team and the
:39:59. > :40:01.European institutions will continue to be accessible for constructive
:40:02. > :40:09.discussions. Fianna Fail sees this exchange of views as an opportunity
:40:10. > :40:11.to link our approach to these negotiations with the fundamental
:40:12. > :40:17.issue of Ireland's place within Europe. This is not just about the
:40:18. > :40:22.outcome of the Brexit process, but also about how we see the long term
:40:23. > :40:26.future of relations on this island with our neighbour and with our
:40:27. > :40:32.partners in the European Union. No one underestimates the scale and
:40:33. > :40:39.complexity of the task which you face. Last year's referendum was an
:40:40. > :40:44.ugly and negative affair. No amount of warm words and earnest statements
:40:45. > :40:48.can cover this up. There was no study for implementing Brexit. There
:40:49. > :40:54.was just a strategy for winning the vote through a combination of
:40:55. > :41:00.bluster and aggression. It was not a positive assertion of sovereignty,
:41:01. > :41:02.it was the culmination of 30 years of an increasingly corrosive
:41:03. > :41:07.scapegoating of Europe and immigrants for the home-grown
:41:08. > :41:10.divisions in British society. Those false prophets who promised an
:41:11. > :41:15.economic bonanza are now claiming that they have defied the critics
:41:16. > :41:20.and Britain is booming. This is nonsense. Public borrowing and taxes
:41:21. > :41:23.have already risen since the vote, and the long term damage to
:41:24. > :41:29.employment and standards of living is becoming ever more certain.
:41:30. > :41:32.Fundamentally, the narrow Brexit majority represented a rejection of
:41:33. > :41:40.strong rule-based cooperation between states. It asserted a narrow
:41:41. > :41:42.vision of sovereignty which developed in the 19th century and
:41:43. > :41:47.directly led to the two bloodiest wars in history. Let there be no
:41:48. > :41:54.doubt about where Ireland stands. We want nothing to do with a backward
:41:55. > :41:59.looking idea of sovereignty. We remain absolutely committed to the
:42:00. > :42:05.ideals of the European Union. We see the union for what it is, the most
:42:06. > :42:08.successful international organisation in world history. And
:42:09. > :42:13.while the extremes of right and left try together to attack it, they have
:42:14. > :42:18.no credible response to the fact that every member state has secured
:42:19. > :42:22.a significant rise in living standards and a continent once
:42:23. > :42:28.defined by conflict is today defined by cooperation. The union is flawed,
:42:29. > :42:33.but its successes are undeniable. Certainly, there are different views
:42:34. > :42:37.here. There are those who buy into the anti-EU narratives. But the
:42:38. > :42:40.overwhelming majority of the Irish people are determined that Ireland's
:42:41. > :42:46.future will remain a European future. It is important for you to
:42:47. > :42:50.understand that Ireland's approach to Europe and to international
:42:51. > :42:56.commitments is deeply intertwined with our national identity. Last
:42:57. > :43:03.year, we marked 100 years since the most important founding event of our
:43:04. > :43:08.Republic. The nationalism of the rising of 1916 and the population of
:43:09. > :43:12.independence is a generous one. It defines the Irish nation is having
:43:13. > :43:18.diverse elements, and six a state which works with others. Our
:43:19. > :43:23.republican constitution, adopted in 1937 at a dark moment in world
:43:24. > :43:29.affairs, goes even further and explicitly recognises the role of
:43:30. > :43:34.international law and cooperation. We have no nostalgia for a lost
:43:35. > :43:40.Empire and no wish to assert superiority over others. We have
:43:41. > :43:44.never sought to stand apart from the world, jealously guarding the right
:43:45. > :43:49.to say no to everything. We fully understand that only when states
:43:50. > :43:54.work together can they secure peace, progress and prosperity for their
:43:55. > :43:59.people. That is why we remain active and constructive members of the
:44:00. > :44:02.European Union. The most basic challenge for the agreement which
:44:03. > :44:09.you will negotiate is to protect the essential contract which underpins
:44:10. > :44:15.the European Union. This contract is that all members must have the
:44:16. > :44:18.opportunity to achieve progress. When new circumstances arise, new
:44:19. > :44:22.responses must be possible. If Europe ceases to be a vehicle of
:44:23. > :44:26.hope, then it ceases to have a purpose. Brexit represents a
:44:27. > :44:31.dramatic disruption which poses permanent challenges which are
:44:32. > :44:35.unevenly spread within the union. The referendum result in the British
:44:36. > :44:41.government's decision to opt out of both the single market and the
:44:42. > :44:43.customs union are deeply destructive to businesses and communities on
:44:44. > :44:48.this island. The only long term option for us is to take a more
:44:49. > :44:54.ambitious and urgent approach to that and innovation. Even more
:44:55. > :44:58.importantly, we must now find a way of fixing the damage caused to the
:44:59. > :45:05.agreed approach to building a lasting reconciliation in a place of
:45:06. > :45:08.sectarian division. I remember well that when a government of ours
:45:09. > :45:13.approached you concerning European Union support for the peace process,
:45:14. > :45:17.you were active, engaged and generous. We have no doubt that you
:45:18. > :45:21.will do everything possible to honour the clear support for the
:45:22. > :45:28.Good Friday agreement contained in the negotiation guidelines.
:45:29. > :45:33.It is important to emphasise that Good Friday Agreement has policies
:45:34. > :45:39.and structures which were intended to evolve overtime. It is not the
:45:40. > :45:44.intention of having either the status quo or be reunification. In
:45:45. > :45:47.fact the spirit of the act is to allow for provisions for shared...
:45:48. > :45:51.Over time in important practical matters. The text incorps rauted in
:45:52. > :45:57.our constitution allows for this Parliament. - incorporated. Allows
:45:58. > :46:00.for this Parliament to delegate to bodies not solely under our
:46:01. > :46:04.direction. Tourism, trade and European funding programmes are
:46:05. > :46:10.three of the areas already covered. Whatever is agreed in the
:46:11. > :46:13.negotiations must do nothing to undermine the ability to allow
:46:14. > :46:19.shared cross-border institutions and action to develop. In terms of the
:46:20. > :46:22.wider trade arrangements, we believe that maintaining a close trading
:46:23. > :46:26.relationship with the United Kingdom is in Europe's best interests. Given
:46:27. > :46:31.the scale of disruption which Brexit will cause, even with its soft
:46:32. > :46:34.border, we believe that a former special status should be considered
:46:35. > :46:38.in the negotiations. -- a formal special status. There are many
:46:39. > :46:44.models of special economic zones in the world which could be adapted.
:46:45. > :46:47.The rights of persons born in Northern Ireland, or long-term
:46:48. > :46:50.residents of Northern Ireland, to Irish and, therefore, European
:46:51. > :46:55.citizenship, must be protected fully in the final agreement. We welcome
:46:56. > :47:02.the reassurances provided on this, as well as the commitment to
:47:03. > :47:05.maintain the common travel area. As you know, this commitment is
:47:06. > :47:13.currently referenced in protocol 20 of the treaty on the functioning of
:47:14. > :47:16.the European Union. This port of call is essentially meaninglesses
:47:17. > :47:21.once the UK leaves the European Union because Ireland's rights are
:47:22. > :47:25.defined in in terms of its relation was another contracting partner to
:47:26. > :47:30.the treaty this. Raisings what maybe a fundmental practical negotiations
:47:31. > :47:33.with the arrangement which is the status of the agreement which
:47:34. > :47:38.emerges the guidelines limit what can be agreed to measures that
:47:39. > :47:42.conform to existing European laws. It is frapgly, very difficult to see
:47:43. > :47:47.how issues to do with Northern Ireland or indeed the common travel
:47:48. > :47:50.area, as well as essential economic adjustments, can be addressed
:47:51. > :47:55.without some new EU legal measures. We hope you will be willing to
:47:56. > :48:00.recommend new legislative acts, where these maybe required. However,
:48:01. > :48:04.where there is a doubt concerning the treaties, we believe the final
:48:05. > :48:11.agreement should provide the means of adopting some new measures, such
:48:12. > :48:22.as an enabling provision which would allow new North-South arrangements,
:48:23. > :48:27.following council Eunan incompetent. -- unamimit areas. It should be
:48:28. > :48:32.possible to adopt minor treaty provisions at the same time if they
:48:33. > :48:36.are meeting basic objectives. This session does not allow for more
:48:37. > :48:40.detail but we will forward to you specific proposals once the
:48:41. > :48:46.negotiations are under way. On this very day, 45 years ago, the votes
:48:47. > :48:55.were counted in our accession referendum. An overwhelming 83%
:48:56. > :48:59.voted in favour of membership. The campaign saw many scare stories,
:49:00. > :49:03.promoted about how Europe would reduce Ireland to a barren
:49:04. > :49:07.wasteland, build nuclear plants on every cross roads and parade
:49:08. > :49:11.missiles down our main streets. The people, however, choose to place
:49:12. > :49:14.their faith in the positive vision of Ireland, growing and prospering
:49:15. > :49:22.within the European Community of nations. Our European path was in
:49:23. > :49:27.fact the final public contribution of our great revolutionary
:49:28. > :49:33.generation. As a 16-year-old boy, Shaun escaped from home in order to
:49:34. > :49:38.fight in the 1916 rising. As a politician a decade later, he read
:49:39. > :49:47.and was inspired by the idea of a united Europe, proposed by the great
:49:48. > :49:54.French statesman Briand. When he came Taoiseach at the end of the
:49:55. > :50:02.19050s, he called for our country to open itself. His governsance laid
:50:03. > :50:05.the foundations for sustained progress and applied for membership
:50:06. > :50:09.of the European Community. He told us there would be challenges but the
:50:10. > :50:16.opportunities would be far greater. This father of our European path and
:50:17. > :50:19.of modern Ireland died on May 11th 1971, exactly one year before the
:50:20. > :50:26.result of our accession referendum was announced. His legacy is as
:50:27. > :50:31.important today as it ever has been. Europe faces a moment of great
:50:32. > :50:35.uncertainty and in many ways, fear. There's no positive side to Brexit.
:50:36. > :50:40.But, if we look to our shared history, we see that we have come
:50:41. > :50:45.through many difficult times before. If we remember the core ideals of
:50:46. > :50:49.the union, we will get through this process, and secure for another
:50:50. > :50:52.generation the promise of shared progress, and prosper yited between
:50:53. > :50:54.the nations of Europe. Thank you very much indeed.
:50:55. > :51:06.APPLAUSE #
:51:07. > :51:32.Gerry Adams, please. HE SPEAKS GAELIC
:51:33. > :51:37.I welcome your presence and your remarks on with behalf of Sinn Fein
:51:38. > :51:43.and let me tell you a wee bit about us. Sinn Fein is an Irish Republican
:51:44. > :51:49.Party, we are an all-Ireland party. We have the largest group of Irish
:51:50. > :51:55.MEPs in the European Parliament. Sinn Fein has TDs, MLSs, Senators,
:51:56. > :51:59.MPs, MEPs and counsel os, we have a significant mandate and are the only
:52:00. > :52:04.party substantially organised across this entire Ireland. Sinn Fein is
:52:05. > :52:10.opposed to the partition of Ireland. We are a united Ireland party. We
:52:11. > :52:14.want an toned British Government involvement in Irish affairs and we
:52:15. > :52:17.are working for the unity of all the people of this island, based on
:52:18. > :52:23.equality, respect and reconciliation. We believe,
:52:24. > :52:31.absolutely in the core values of equality, liberty, and fraternity
:52:32. > :52:35.and the foundation of these values in the 1916 proclamation. With
:52:36. > :52:38.others, Sinn Fein has played a central role in the development of
:52:39. > :52:42.the peace process and in the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent
:52:43. > :52:46.agreements. We have to create - and we were part of of the national and
:52:47. > :52:51.international effort that brought an end to conflict on this island, not
:52:52. > :52:56.least with the European Union, as a critical partner for peace over the
:52:57. > :53:01.past 20 years. But those who were previously denied the right to work
:53:02. > :53:04.peacefully for a united Ireland, the Good Friday Agreement commits the
:53:05. > :53:12.Government to legislate for that, if the people consent to this. Sinn
:53:13. > :53:18.Fein campaigned, unlike yourself, against Irish membership of the EEC
:53:19. > :53:21.in 1973. Since then, every European Treaty has taken further powers from
:53:22. > :53:28.the Irish state. Sinn Fein wants a different type of European Union. We
:53:29. > :53:33.want a social Europe, which promotes peace, demilitarisation, economic
:53:34. > :53:37.and social justice, international solidarity and greater democratic
:53:38. > :53:43.accountability. Today's European Union is wedded to
:53:44. > :53:47.neo-Liberal policies. These have created widespread hardship, as
:53:48. > :53:50.austerity, deregulation and privatisation have undermined the
:53:51. > :53:55.social function of states and the rights of citizens, including the
:53:56. > :54:01.rights of workers, and increasingly, as you acknowledged in your remarks,
:54:02. > :54:07.people across the EU are uncomfortable with. And yet yes, has
:54:08. > :54:11.asisd the growth of far right policies which exploit people's
:54:12. > :54:15.fears. Brexit, in our opinion is a scone sequence of that. During the
:54:16. > :54:18.Brexit referendum, Sinn Fein campaigned for a Remain vote in the
:54:19. > :54:22.North. It is clearly not in the interests of the people of this
:54:23. > :54:25.island, whatever their background, whatever their views, to have one
:54:26. > :54:31.part of the island outside the European Union and the other part
:54:32. > :54:34.inside. I know that you value the peace process and the Good Friday
:54:35. > :54:40.Agreement. I commend your support for that, as you say, going back to
:54:41. > :54:47.the time of John Hume and David Trimble. I'm sure you are aware that
:54:48. > :54:51.any agreement by the EU, that violates an international treaty,
:54:52. > :54:55.which is what it is, would contravene EU Treaty obligations.
:54:56. > :55:02.But Brexit is not just an issue for the North. It'll adversely affect
:55:03. > :55:06.our entire island if we let T it's vital that its challenges are met on
:55:07. > :55:11.that all-island basis. It is clear and again you acknowledged this in
:55:12. > :55:15.your remarks, as did the Taoiseach, that Brexit would have a serious and
:55:16. > :55:21.detrimental affect and is already having this affect on Irish jobs and
:55:22. > :55:25.businesses and in particular in the agriculture and agri-food sector.
:55:26. > :55:38.The aim of the European Union, if I may say so, should be to prevent a
:55:39. > :55:43.land frontier between the European Union and the UK on the island of
:55:44. > :55:47.Ireland. That should be the key objective, to prevent that land
:55:48. > :55:51.bored on our island. To achieve this, we have advocated that the
:55:52. > :55:57.North be afforded designated special status within the European Union. We
:55:58. > :56:01.also believe that Ireland should have a veto on any agreement reached
:56:02. > :56:07.between the EU and the British Government, that does not include
:56:08. > :56:12.this position. Designated status, Mr Barnier, is the best is the only way
:56:13. > :56:17.to ensure that the entire island of Ireland remains within the European
:56:18. > :56:20.Union. I commend to you, today that it is an imaginative solution that
:56:21. > :56:25.addresses the complexities of the problem. It does not affect the
:56:26. > :56:29.constitutional status of the North. That will only be changed by our
:56:30. > :56:34.referendum. Designated special status within the European Union is
:56:35. > :56:41.the position endorsed by this Dail. It is the position of this
:56:42. > :56:45.Parliament. It is endorsed by the majority of MLAs in the northern
:56:46. > :56:48.aaccept bli. It also recognises that the people of the North voted to
:56:49. > :56:53.remain part of the European Union. Is that just going to be set to one
:56:54. > :56:56.side? Ignored, driven over? It's a solution beinged a vericated by
:56:57. > :57:01.representatives of border communities and some of them are
:57:02. > :57:06.here in the Public Gallery and I welcome them. The Tory Government in
:57:07. > :57:12.England should not be allowed to reject that vote. It should not be
:57:13. > :57:17.allowed to set aside the way people in the North have decided. They
:57:18. > :57:21.should not be allowed to drag the North out of the European Union,
:57:22. > :57:25.against the democratic wishes of citizens. Designated special status
:57:26. > :57:30.for North, within the European Union, isn't about a hard Brexit, or
:57:31. > :57:37.a soft Brexit ited, it is about the best interests of our economy, our
:57:38. > :57:41.peace process and our people. It's also a democratic imperative. It's
:57:42. > :57:47.about retaining the freedom of movement, of goods, people and
:57:48. > :57:50.services on the island of Ireland. Any restriction, any restriction
:57:51. > :57:56.whatsoever on the freedom of movement would represent a hardening
:57:57. > :58:02.of the border. Believe me, this will severely damage social and economic
:58:03. > :58:06.cohesion. But beyond acceptable to people living in the border
:58:07. > :58:11.communities, but also to people across our island. Special status
:58:12. > :58:16.will assure the North's trading relationship with the rest of yierld
:58:17. > :58:22.and the European Union, particularly -- rest of yierld and the European,
:58:23. > :58:26.particularly with agriculture, agri-foods, all of that would be
:58:27. > :58:30.maintained. It is about allowing all of Ireland to remain in the customs
:58:31. > :58:32.union, the single market and on to the jurisdiction of the European
:58:33. > :58:36.Court of Justice. It is about maintaining the European Convention
:58:37. > :58:42.on Human Rights. It's about protecting the rights of citizens in
:58:43. > :58:47.the North, who have a right to Irish citizenship and, therefore, to
:58:48. > :58:51.citizenship of the European Union. Access to EU rights and services
:58:52. > :59:00.across employment, workers conditions, Social Security, and
:59:01. > :59:06.health care must also be protected. Now, none of this is beyond our
:59:07. > :59:10.collective wisdom or our ability. It does require political flexibility
:59:11. > :59:13.from the European Union. Now, of course, the little Englanders may
:59:14. > :59:17.object, but let me remind you, and them, that they are looking for
:59:18. > :59:22.special arrangements with the European Union for themselves. And
:59:23. > :59:27.there are already unique arrangements in place for other
:59:28. > :59:31.states. So, the European Union has been flexible on these matters.
:59:32. > :59:36.There are different forms of integration and relationships for
:59:37. > :59:43.Member States and non-Member States. These include overseas countries and
:59:44. > :59:48.territory status, the European free trade association and the separate
:59:49. > :59:52.customs union. In light of the were visions for Irish unity in the Good
:59:53. > :59:56.Friday Agreement, the European Union should not diverge from these norms.
:59:57. > :00:01.Sinn Fein, unlike the Taoiseach, would like to see a referendum on
:00:02. > :00:06.Irish unity within the next five years. However, the immediate
:00:07. > :00:13.challenge facing the European Union, and the people of Ireland, is how to
:00:14. > :00:19.meet the threat of Brexit. And this is all about what kind of Ireland
:00:20. > :00:26.will emerge after Brexit. And the only way to positively shape that is
:00:27. > :00:34.through a special designated status for the North, within the European
:00:35. > :00:37.Union, so merci beaucoup, Mr Barnier, I thank you for your
:00:38. > :00:42.presence. HE SPEAKS IN GAELIC
:00:43. > :01:00.Thank you Deputy Adams. Thank you. I want to add my words of
:01:01. > :01:07.welcome to Monsieur Barnier and although my speaking time is brief,
:01:08. > :01:16.I want to use my proximity to emphasise the point I want to make.
:01:17. > :01:19.We met many years ago. We were both environment ministers and I know his
:01:20. > :01:27.commitment to the ideals of Europe. I also know that you appreciate that
:01:28. > :01:32.the Brexit negotiating mandate is about our vital national interests
:01:33. > :01:39.and the vital interests of this island as a whole. We have many
:01:40. > :01:44.concerns. Where are an island, off an island, off the mainland of
:01:45. > :01:51.Europe. Inevitably, our geography must dictate our policies and
:01:52. > :01:59.priorities. The negotiating guidelines, with their insistence on
:02:00. > :02:06.an orderly approach, postpone consideration for what for us will
:02:07. > :02:14.be the most vital interests until later. To be specific, while the
:02:15. > :02:18.guidelines do recognise, as other speakers have referenced, the
:02:19. > :02:21.special position of Northern Ireland, albeit with the real
:02:22. > :02:28.challenges that others have already underscored. They don't, in my view,
:02:29. > :02:36.sufficiently recognise the unique challenges that would be faced by us
:02:37. > :02:40.south of the border. Brexit means that for us, the idea of achieving
:02:41. > :02:49.the European single market has been set back a generation. That is the
:02:50. > :02:54.undeniable truth. Bluntly, once the UK leaves, it will no longer make
:02:55. > :02:58.any real practical day-to-day sense for us to talk about membership of a
:02:59. > :03:05.true single market in relation to the goods and services that we
:03:06. > :03:10.import and export. Talk of the single market will, from our
:03:11. > :03:17.perspective, revert from being almost a practical reality that we
:03:18. > :03:24.almost had fully achieved towards something more closely resembling an
:03:25. > :03:30.aspiration. The basic reason, as I said, is one of geography. There
:03:31. > :03:37.will in future be a large chunk of non-Europe between us and the rest
:03:38. > :03:41.of the union. Brexit will impact on every aspect of our economic, social
:03:42. > :03:48.and cultural lives. They will impact on every network that we are already
:03:49. > :03:53.connected to. This includes in physical and infrastructural terms,
:03:54. > :03:57.our transport, energy, our telecommunications networks. And it
:03:58. > :04:03.was therefore impact on Ireland's ability to adhere to EU law. It will
:04:04. > :04:13.affect, for example, our ability to comply with the EU directive are
:04:14. > :04:16.squaring a single EU market in at 60 -- electricity when our only power
:04:17. > :04:21.connections with Northern Ireland and with Britain. Another directive
:04:22. > :04:26.requires a market without frontiers when most of our external television
:04:27. > :04:31.comes from Britain. EU directives are based on internal markets,
:04:32. > :04:35.common markets and interconnectedness. They are
:04:36. > :04:41.designed to cover enormous territories and immense distances
:04:42. > :04:48.and to bring them together as one. They aren't designed to leapfrog
:04:49. > :04:51.over other countries, operating with completely separate rules, to which
:04:52. > :04:56.we will nonetheless remain truly tied in Ireland in terms of
:04:57. > :05:05.geography, infrastructure, networks and trade. So our challenge posed
:05:06. > :05:09.Brexit for Ireland to adhere to policies and to laws that were
:05:10. > :05:15.designed for an internal EU market, when we will find ourselves removed
:05:16. > :05:20.from direct access to that market, having few direct infrastructural
:05:21. > :05:28.connections, remain connected instead to a country outside the
:05:29. > :05:33.union. All of these factors makes Ireland's case unique in the
:05:34. > :05:37.negotiations, Michel, that you are about to lead on our behalf. I hope
:05:38. > :05:43.Michel the views expressed by members in the few short minutes we
:05:44. > :05:51.have here in the ongoing dialogue we will have with you will - and make
:05:52. > :06:00.sure you bring is effective as can be a conclusion in our interests.
:06:01. > :06:05.Thank you. Richard Boyd Barrett, please. As a representative of the
:06:06. > :06:11.people before profit Alliance and a socialist, Monsieur Barnier, I am a
:06:12. > :06:18.thorough internationalist, an implacable supporter of
:06:19. > :06:23.international solidarity and an implacable opponent of the racist
:06:24. > :06:34.and far right forces that are now rising in Europe. But I ask you in
:06:35. > :06:37.all sincerity, can we trust you with the issues of international
:06:38. > :06:41.solidarity, or indeed with the issues of the free movement of
:06:42. > :06:50.people as they pertain to Europe or to this country? This week, 250
:06:51. > :06:55.desperate refugees fleeing North Africa drowned in the Mediterranean
:06:56. > :07:00.because of the EU's Fortress Europe policies. Not free movement
:07:01. > :07:08.policies, policies denying free movement to desperate people. Can we
:07:09. > :07:13.trust you with international solidarity when John Daughtry Chez
:07:14. > :07:20.threatens to let off" a financial bomb in Dublin" if our government
:07:21. > :07:24.even suggested to burn the gambling bondholders who crippled our economy
:07:25. > :07:29.and whose activities inflicted absolutely cruel and vicious
:07:30. > :07:35.austerity on hundreds of thousands of our citizens, leaving us still
:07:36. > :07:38.today with a legacy of the worst housing and homelessness crisis in
:07:39. > :07:43.the history of the state, a health service that has been savaged,
:07:44. > :07:48.incredible hardship imposed on some of our most vulnerable citizens? And
:07:49. > :07:52.even now, the EU fiscal rules, of which I think you were a significant
:07:53. > :07:58.architect, cripple our ability to deal with those problems. So I don't
:07:59. > :08:05.trust the European Union, Mr Barnier, to do a deal that will
:08:06. > :08:10.vindicate the needs and aspirations of the citizens of this country,
:08:11. > :08:12.because you have failed to do so in recent years. And indeed have
:08:13. > :08:20.imposed similar hardship in countries like Greece and Spain and
:08:21. > :08:26.post-Brexit Italy. But if we are to give you any credibility in your
:08:27. > :08:31.commitments today, can I just ask you a few simple questions? Will you
:08:32. > :08:37.guarantee Tom not consider, will you guarantee that Europe will not try
:08:38. > :08:44.and break up the free travel area between Britain and the UKs will you
:08:45. > :08:48.guarantee that the European Union will not impose a hard border
:08:49. > :08:53.between the north and south of this country? And if you believe in
:08:54. > :09:01.democracy, as the European Union professes to do, will you give us a
:09:02. > :09:07.vote in this country on the final deal in the negotiations between the
:09:08. > :09:12.European Union and the UK, so we can decide democratically in this
:09:13. > :09:17.country whether we believe the best deal has been done? And if you
:09:18. > :09:24.cannot give those guarantees, frankly, all the noble aspirations
:09:25. > :09:30.mean very little indeed. It is the failure to give guarantees and
:09:31. > :09:35.promises on democracy, on rights, and to vindicate genuine
:09:36. > :09:38.international solidarity that is actually the reason for the
:09:39. > :09:42.existential crisis that the European Union is now facing. It is to that
:09:43. > :09:48.that the European Union had better address itself quickly if the
:09:49. > :09:49.dangerous forces that are rising in Europe are not to gain further
:09:50. > :10:00.advance.