Brexit blackout request
Senator Leyden, after being prodded by interjections, called for a blackout on 24-hour Brexit commentary and urged negotiators to consult properly. He also thanked the Cathaoirleach and welcomed former Senator Maurice Cummins again.
Absolutely. I want the Minister responsible, the Taoiseach-----
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-----or the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, to come into the House.
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Is the Leader quite happy now? Is this question time or a quiz?
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I thank the Cathaoirleach but I was being distracted. I do not have to answer to the Leader.
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I will answer to the Cathaoirleach but not to the Leader.
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I second the welcome for the former Senator, Maurice Cummins, a former Leader of the House, and a man who is partly responsible for us being here today. He was a very courageous Leader of the House and a very courageous Senator.
I make a request to all the Brexit negotiators that there should be a blackout on the rolling 24-hour news about who said what, when and where and how it is misinterpreted and reinterpreted. Michel Barnier is acting on behalf of the European Union. There is the United Kingdom Government and Michel Barnier should be in consultation with all the governments and all the leaders in private to finalise these negotiations.
The way it is going with the British Prime Minister and the German Chancellor making statements and being misinterpreted or misread, Brexit will not work out. I make the request that there be a news blackout until there is some finality regardless of whether it is on or off - just have it completed. Any negotiation needs that kind of service.
On a less serious note, RTÉ is putting a painting up for sale. It is selling the silverware. It is going to Sotheby's in London to sell two famous paintings by Louis le Brocquy entitled "Táin" and "The Massing Of The Armies", which were commissioned in 1966 and 2000, respectively. These are very valuable paintings and there should either be negotiations about them or they should stay here in the National Gallery. Why can one Department not talk to another and say these are invaluable? I have not seen them in RTÉ because I am not out there. I am never invited out there. I have not been there for about 20 years. It would be useful-----