Martina Anderson, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group. – Mr President, Ireland as an island is more dependent on shipping than most EU Member States. The ongoing recklessness of the British Government with regard to Brexit means that it is only prudent to increase shipping capacity in order to avoid Ireland being punished by the likely difficulties in transit of Irish exports through Britain. So shipping and shipbuilding are of increasing importance to Ireland, north and south.
The EU strategy to deal with the economic crisis in shipbuilding has been embraced by Harland and Wolff, the largest shipyard in Ireland, which is in the city of Belfast. They have embraced innovation and technology, they are increasingly green and increasingly diversifying into new markets. A lot of the work done in recent years depends on the shipyard and the main ports in the north, namely Belfast Harbour, Warren Point, Larne and,in my home town of Derry, Foyle port, being plugged into the European market, and they all rely on the European supply chains.
Brexit is hugely damaging to that plan and risks seriously damaging the industry. Meanwhile the strategy of the British Government seems to depend more on gunboatsthan on any forward-lookingvision for the sector. On this, like on so many other issues, the British Government seem oblivious to the consequences of Brexit for the north of Ireland. This all needs to be factored into the planning of the EU in the time ahead.
Solutions do exist to the threats posed by Brexit for each sector, including shipbuilding. We have presented these solutions through our case for designated special status for the north to remain within the EU post-Brexit. In that vein, we have also proposed a system of red and green channels that complement existing infrastructure at ports and could be used to address goods entering and leaving Ireland, north and south. I want to acknowledge the sterling work that is being done by MEP Liadh Ní Riada with regard to protecting the goods that are transiting from Ireland into Britain or via Britain into the EU.
So this system would be used for goods transiting through Britain from Ireland to the rest of the EU and would therefore protect the integrity of the single market and allow for east-west trade to continue. We do not want to see the border dividing Ireland being reinforced, nor do we want to see the Irish Sea between Britain and Ireland as an obstacle.
Need I remind Members that the Titanic was built in the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast? Belfast city centre and its Titanic quarter have, as a result of the peace process, community development and European funding, seen a transformation for the better. However, on its first voyage the Titanic hit an iceberg on the North Atlantic and sank. So my appeal to colleagues is don’t let Ireland, north and south, crash on the looming iceberg that is Brexit.