Taoiseach to discuss UK’s ‘Brexit’ vote in meeting with Cameron
TAOISEACH Enda Kenny will today have his first major discussion with British Prime Minister David Cameron on the planned referendum on the UK’s future membership of the EU.
It comes as former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the prospect of a British vote in favour of leaving the EU would have “a profound effect” on the peace process in the North.
Mr Ahern said the North’s agriculture, industry and services sectors were all geared towards membership of the European Union.
He raised the prospect of old nationalist and unionist adversaries in the North making common cause if an EU referendum went ahead.
“I think, in fact, it would be the only time you’d get all the parties in the North voting the same way,” Mr Ahern said.
Mr Kenny is in London for discussions today about the potential ‘Brexit’ and the ongoing impasse over the finances of the devolved administration in Belfast.
The stand- off between the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin on welfare cuts is threatening powersharing in the North.
The narrow outright majority won by the Conservative Party on May 8 last has made an EU referendum before the end of 2017 a certainty, and triggered concerns about the fall- out for Ireland.
Today’s talks come amid a flurry of such meetings by Mr Cameron with all his EU counterparts in recent weeks, and the visit to Dublin by Britain’s European Affairs Minister, David Lidington, for a series of meetings at the end of May.
Yesterday, Mr Cameron met Luxembourg Premier Xavier Bettel and other scheduled meetings have included the leaders of Italy, Slovakia and Slovenia, as well as talks with the European Parliament president, Martin Schulz. Mr Cameron is both sounding out opinion across the EU, and trying to recruit allies for the tough negotiations which lie ahead.
Ultimately, everyone knows the outcome of the British referendum is at best uncertain. But Ireland will position itself as an “honest broker” ready to help Britain where possible.
A spokesman for Mr Kenny said Ireland shares some of Britain’s views on the need for some EU reforms. “We agree, for example, on the need to enhance the workings of the Single Market and the digital market,” the spokesman said.
But it is understood that Mr Kenny will be trying to glean some idea on the timing of the British vote and the likelihood of changes being sought by Britain leading to changes in the EU’s founding treaties.
Such a development would lead to Ireland having to hold an EU referendum, a move which is usually problematic.