The Fianna Fáil leader has said the mammoth package of Brexit legislation published this morning justifies his decision to extend the confidence and supply agreement.
Micheál Martin was speaking ahead of the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis which is taking place in Dublin tomorrow.
He said the Government would not be in a position to take any action if Fianna Fáil had not taken the “hard decision” to extend the agreement.
“There is a lot of hot air out there from quarters about preparing for Brexit and being ready for Brexit.
The reality is that again Fianna Fáil had to take the hard decision before Christmas, in my view the correct decision, to continue with confidence and supply and give the government space in terms of the negotiations around Brexit but also to prepare for any eventualities.”
No-deal Brexit
He said the package of legislation should have been published earlier – and said Ireland is “not adequately prepared” for a no-deal scenario.
“The Government had a view for quite a long time that we would not be where we are right now,” he said.
“I think the Government perhaps thought that they would have a deal earlier – I think they thought they would have it all locked up by Christmas, certainly in the autumn period.
“So I think it began to dawn that the prospect of a no-deal Brexit was a very real one a bit late in the day.”
"Armageddon"
He said the Netherlands is much further along in its preparations – and warned that failing to reach a deal would be “Armageddon” for the agri-food and beef sectors.
“Brexit is probably the severest threat in over a decade to Irish society,” he said.
“It fundamentally changes the order of economic relationships between Britain and Europe and Britain and Ireland for the first time in 50 years.”
Tánaiste Simon Coveney outlining the Government’s plans for a No Deal Brexit, 22-02-2019. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNewsAgricultural aid
It comes after changes to EU State Aid rules for farmers were labelled inadequate by the Irish Farmers Association.
The European Commission this morning announced that the limit on the amount national authorities can distribute to farmers in times of crisis will rise from €15,000 to €20,000 per farm – and in certain cases €25,000 per farm.
FA President Joe Healy said the decision was 'an important first step’ – but warned that the limits are still too low, adding that “with the uncertainty around Brexit and the danger of unprecedented losses for farming and the agriculture sector, we cannot put a limit on support at this time.”
Publishing the Brexit Omnibus Bill this morning, the Tánaiste Simon Coveney said Brexit is a "lose, lose, lose" situation for the UK, the EU and Ireland.
The mammoth piece of legislation will dominate time in the Dáil and Seanad over the coming weeks – and is expected to be signed into law on March 29th if the UK crashes out of the WU without a deal on that date.
