Howlin: Concerns for Wexford’s Wales link

LABOUR PARTY leader Brendan Howlin is ‘extremely disappointed’ by the British referendum result and said the Government must work hard to minimise the impact on Irish people.

However, the Wexford TD expressed concern that far-reaching decisions are needed at a time when both the Irish and the British governments are in a weakened position.

‘What we need now is a clear road map but we have a very weakened Government in Ireland without a majority in the Dail and a weakened Government in Britain with the equivalent of a civil war within the Tory party. It’s a very fragile political time to be making a momentous decision,’ he said.

Deputy Howlin said the decision of the British people to vote in favour of leaving the EU is ‘profoundly troubling’ for Ireland.

Among the immediate concerns in County Wexford is the prospect of a tariff between Wexford and its close neighbour Wales which would be ‘unacceptable’ but difficult to see how it could be avoided.

As it stands, people and goods can move freely from Ireland into Wales because it is a common travel area but when the UK leaves the EU it will become an international frontier between 27 countries and the UK, a border that will have to be policed with border checks on goods and people.

Deputy Howlin said he is also worried that the legal status of Irish citizens living and working in Britain will change and said Ireland must ensure that the common travel area is maintained.

‘In relation to the movement of goods, it would be unthinkable that there would be tariffs from Ireland to the UK. That would impact negatively on our trade with the UK.’

Commenting on the day of the poll result, the Labour leader said a significant drop in the value of Sterling against the Euro was an immediate issue and if the slide continued it would result in a direct loss of competitiveness and make it difficult for Irish products to sell in Britain. ‘ There will be volatility in the first few days but how it will settle remains to be seen,’ he said. He pointed out that the Sterling difference had the immediate effect of reducing the income of thousands of people in Ireland who are in receipt of UK pensions following long periods of employment in Britain. ‘Our first obligation is to minimise the negative impact of the UK referendum result on the people of this island and my party will support the Irish Government’s efforts in this regard,’ said the Labour TD He said he believed the UK Government should have discussions with Ireland as a matter of urgency, ‘Labour remains committed to an open border and an open trading relationship with the UK and my party also remains deeply committed to Ireland’s membership of the European Union,’ he said. ‘I think most of us believed there would be a Remain vote,’ he said. ‘In time I think it will be seen as a tragedy for the UK and its people.’

(Maria Pepper)