One-minute speeches on matters of political importance
Deirdre Clune (PPE). – Mr President, last week those negotiating the Brexit agreement appeared to reach a stalemate and we now look to the summit next month and I hope that sufficient progress can be made there in order for the future arrangements between the UK and Europe to be agreed. We should remind ourselves at this time that this Parliament’s resolution recognises the unique situation and the special circumstances on the island of Ireland, and that any solutions will have to be mindful of this, and that means protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts.
The 1998 Good Friday Agreement, voted by people across the island of Ireland, was underpinned and was supported by the European Union. Now we have North-South cooperation on the island of Ireland in many areas, in more than a hundred areas in health, education, and environment, and we need that to continue. Northern Ireland needs to stay within the EU regulatory regime if that is to continue, and that means within the Customs Union or within the Single Market. I think we need to bear that in mind when we are looking again at the negotiations that will occur next month.