Former Taoiseach, John Bruton, to address Seanad Special Select Committee on Brexit

The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

Session A: 10.00 a.m.

Engagement with former Taoiseach, Mr John Bruton.

Session B: 12.00 p.m.

Engagement with former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern.

Session C: 2.30 p.m.

Engagement on Citizenship Rights [Mr Colin Harvey, Queen’s University Belfast; Mr Michael Farrell and Representatives from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) led by Mr Liam Herrick, Executive Director]

Committee Chairman, Senator Neale Richmond, said: “Former Taoiseach, John Bruton, has stated that he believes a second Brexit referendum should be put to the UK, arguing that people had voted to leave the EU on the basis of invalid promises. He has also voiced his concern about an EU border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Given his experience as a former EU Ambassador to the USA and his role in the drafting of the EU Constitution, the thoughts of Mr Bruton will be particularly relevant to the work of the Committee and we look forward to hearing him build on his recent speech to the House of Lords."

“In the afternoon, Former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, will address the Committee. Mr Ahern has spoken of what he sees as the inevitability of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Committee members will be keen to discuss what can be done to make any border as – to use Theresa May’s words – seamless and frictionless as possible.”

“The final session of the meeting will see the Committee concentrate on how to protect the rights of EU citizens living in the UK; UK nationals living in Ireland and citizenship rights in Northern Ireland.”

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