Govt must come clean on Brexit preparations as rhetoric in the UK ramps up – Chambers

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Brexit Lisa Chambers has called on the government to outline to Irish citizens what its plan for a no-deal Brexit is.

She made the call following reports that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnston plans to extend the suspension of the British Parliament until mid-September, thereby reducing the amount of time MPs have to block a no-deal Brexit.

Deputy Chambers said, “It is really concerning to see British politics further disintegrate as we approach the Brexit deadline of October 31st. If Prime Minister Johnson seeks to suspend parliament for over a month, to resume just 3 days before the next EU council meeting, this will only serve to further deepen the divide in British politics and move us further away from getting a Brexit deal done.

“The UK, like Ireland, is a parliamentary democracy; for this to function and serve its citizens properly, MPs should have adequate time in parliament to debate Brexit in its final stages. The idea this would not happen I imagine is deeply upsetting for MPs and many citizens in the UK.

“Clearly our own domestic preparations must be ramped up by government as a no deal Brexit now seems very likely. Ministers here have failed to clearly outline what a no deal Brexit will look like. Farmers and exporters have been left in the lurch and have been unable to get a straight answer when they ask where the border checks be if a no deal comes to pass.

“The government has simply not been open with its plans leaving individuals and businesses facing a no deal Brexit unable to properly prepare. In fact, a new report out today has found that fewer than one in five Irish SMEs say they are prepared for Brexit.

“I would also like to know the position of the European Commission in relation to the government’s proposal to have customs checks away from the border, and where it believes these checks should be placed.

“What we need from government now is transparency. This has been severely lacking and with just over two months to go until a possible crash out by the UK, this is simply no longer acceptable”, concluded Deputy Chambers.