Coming from the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly plenary in the past two days, the Brexit issue is of huge importance to this country, the United Kingdom and the European Union. I am disappointed that an all-Ireland forum has not been set up both North and South to address the implications of this serious issue. It has gone unnoticed in this Chamber, but the North-South Interparliamentary Association has met in this Chamber every six months for the last three years. Many issues have been discussed, including cross-border tourism and infrastructure. It has gone unnoticed. There have been politicians of different hues in this Chamber and from different parties in Stormont involved. After the most important decision that could affect this country in the past 50 years, we really need to look at it from a cross-border, all-Ireland basis. I call on the Minister to come into the House to explain what exactly is being done and what can be done. In the past five years this country has been at the heart of Europe and we can do a lot. However, we cannot do things in silos when dealing with Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the island of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the European Union. We need an all-Ireland approach. I ask the Minister to come into the House to try to see if we could have all-Ireland co-operation on this very important matter.

I ask the Leader whether he will take on board the many issues surrounding Brexit. The one I wish to discuss today is the issue of third level students and the Brexit vote. As everybody in this room knows, many students from all over Ireland, particularly from Border counties, attend universities both in Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the United Kingdom. There is a reciprocal arrangement for students from Great Britain and Northern Ireland who come here to the South of Ireland to go to college to study for their degrees. The outcome of the referendum could have a major impact on these students, particularly those from this jurisdiction who are heading either to the North of Ireland or elsewhere in the United Kingdom to further their studies. It is an issue, among many others, that needs to be addressed and taken on board.

This vacuum is causing many families concern. During the negotiations which are estimated to last two years this will probably not be an immediate issue, but it needs to be addressed. Students who sat their leaving certificates or are in the middle of courses are facing the uncertainty of not knowing whether their fees will increase in a couple of years time. This issue affects a large number of students and it is essential that it be given priority during the negotiations between Britain, Ireland and the European Union.

Regarding councillors' terms and conditions, I was a councillor for more than 15 years. It is important that the House speaks with one voice on this issue. Our ambition is to improve the terms and conditions of councillors. If we do not, we will find it difficult to get people to enter into local government at a time when we are encouraging many to do so.