This morning the Irish insurance industry announced plans to distribute what it calls green cards to motor insurance holders so that they will be able to prove that they have insurance when they travel in the North and across the UK. Could the Tánaiste confirm whether there is a legislative basis for the green cards and what are the plans to deal with practical issues such as insurance for communities who live on the Border or who have to travel regularly into the UK? No specific proposals are outlined in the contingency plans, but given the conversation between the Tánaiste and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, it does not seem there is any understanding at his level about anything in relation to Brexit so we should not be surprised.

I will ignore the last part of that question.

Go on, tell us the real version.

Good defending.

I will give some guidance. In my view it is not likely to happen and we will all be working to ensure it does not happen, but should there be a no-deal Brexit, the UK, including Northern Ireland, will no longer be part of the motor insurance directive, which is an EU directive, meaning a green card will be required to demonstrate to the authorities in Northern Ireland and to the rest of the UK if one is driving there that valid motor insurance cover is in place for one's vehicle. What the industry is saying, and what we are saying, is that this is an example of contingency planning. North and South of the Border, and in the UK, the same advice is being given at the same time by the industry, namely, that cars and vehicles that are transiting back and forth across the Border or going to the UK will need to be able to show that they have valid insurance if they are stopped in the other jurisdiction. If they carry the green card, which will be available for them, then they will be covered in that regard.