We’ll protect North’s rights
Mchugh’s vow during Beyond Brexit seminar
MINISTER Joe Mchugh has pledged Government support in protecting the rights of the North’s citizens as Europeans after Brexit.
It would mean anyone from the region could continue to enjoy freedom of travel and trade across the EU and European Parliament voting rights.
He said this can be read from guarantees enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement.
Mr Mchugh was speaking alongisde Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou Mcdonald at the Beyond Brexit conference in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall where she advanced calls for a unity poll.
She called on the Irish Government to establish a new forum to look into it and prepare the ground for a vote in the near future. Other speakers included Fianna Fail deputy leader Dara Calleary and SDLP chief Colum Eastwood. Nationalist human rights lawyer Niall Murphy, who organised the conference, said: “All of us on this island share fears and concerns. “The majority of people in Northern Ireland did not
support it [the Brexit vote] at that time and that is why the Irish Government want to be vigilant to protect the Good Friday Agreement.
“The protection of rights will be the priority for the Irish Government in any Brexit scenario.”
Mr Mchugh also talked about the possibility of Irish unity being an outcome of Brexit and he said it is a “legitimate political objective based on the principle of consent”.
However, he added the Irish Government believes a border poll “would only lead to further division”.
But Ms Mcdonald said: “I think it is irresponsible and I think it is arrogant for a Dublin government to shout down any prospect of a unity referendum, I think it is wrong.”
The delegates at the conference were predominantly nationalist – with few unionists in the audience, and only one speaker from a unionist persuasion on the stage, Professor Jim Dornan – father of actor Jamie.
THE Beyond Brexit conference yesterday highlighted the strong opinions of our politicians about a hard border.
Mary Lou Mcdonald wants an all-ireland referendum, describing the Taoiseach’s reluctance to call one as “irresponsible”.
But in a power struggle between Brussels and the UK, it is clear Ireland’s stance is largely irrelevant.
Furthermore, the uniqueness of the Uk-irish border makes trade and immigration policy talks a play-it-by-ear affair.
Any so-called “experts” who claim to have a solution to the geopolitical cock-up are only engaging in arrogant tripe.