MEP calls for Irish veto on Brexit deal

EU rules require only majority support, Hayes warns

A BREXIT deal should not be agreed by the EU without the agreement of Ireland, according to Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes.

Mr Hayes told a meeting of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce yesterday that any ‘divorce settlement’ should be allowed to pass only if all 27 remaining member states agree, instead of just a clear majority.

He said Ireland must not be ‘railroaded’ by other countries into accepting a deal that could be damaging for us.

Under EU voting rules, only a qualified majority is needed to get through an agreement.

The deal would need the support of 55% of member states, representing at least 65% of the total EU population.

Mr Hayes said: ‘I believe it’s Brian Hayes: Brexit speech crucial that the EU makes it clear, especially from Ireland’s perspective, that the divorce settlement can only come about by way of unanimity.

‘The current procedure allows the European Council to decide on the agreement by way of a strong qualified-majority vote.

‘The council should make it clear from the start that all 27 member states have rights in this process and that ultimately all concerns have to be met.

This, from Ireland’s perspective, is crucial in establishing that we cannot be railroaded by other member states into accepting something that is not in our national interest.’

He also called for a three-year transition period after Brexit, and suggested the process could take up to ten years as it is ‘not a sprint but a marathon’.

Health Minister Simon Harris, who also spoke at the event, said the Common Travel Area between Ireland and the UK must remain.

He said: ‘Continuing economic growth is key to underpinning continued increased investment in public services, and that is why, in the Brexit negotiations ahead, we must protect our economy, especially the sectors that are heavily reliant on the UK for their business.

‘We must maintain the closest possible trading relationship with the UK. We want to maintain our Common Travel Area with the UK and the open border with the North. We want to protect the Good Friday Agreement in both spirit and letter. And we want an EU that works for its citizens.’

The calls come after it emerged that Irish people may still have citizenship rights in Britain under plans being devised by Britain’s Brexit minister David Davis. Earlier this week, Mr Davis signalled his intention to update the travel agreement to deal with the consequences of Britain’s departure.

He also envisaged an electronic border between the Republic and the North.

He said he did not believe the European Commission would raise objections to keeping the travel area in light of the delicate situation around the peace process, adding: ‘I don’t see that that should provide a problem.’

Comment – Page 14 jennifer.bray@dailymail.ie