Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Concern as no Ulster voice at Brexit talks
Sinn Fein urged to take MPS’ seats
CONCERN has been raised that nobody from Northern Ireland has been present at talks with the EU’S chief Brexit negotiator.
Michel Barnier yesterday held separate meetings with Welsh and Scottish first ministers Carwyn Jones and Nicola Sturgeon, as well as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
However, due to the collapse of Stormont, nobody from Northern Ireland attended the talks.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood warned the Executive must be restored “to resist” the “catastrophe” of Brexit.
He said: “The threat posed to this part of our island cannot be underestimated – we must restore the institutions to resist it. We cannot be left behind, it is our responsibility to prevent this catastrophe.
“Today the North of Ireland is cut out of formal talks with the head negotiator Michel Barnier due to the absence of a government here.
“While Scotland and Wales meet with the EU leader, we are left without a voice at that table.”
Mr Eastwood added Irish nationalism has been silenced in Westminster by the refusal of Sinn Fein MPS to take their seats to fight the “destructive” Repeal Bill to convert EU law for the UK.
He urged Sinn Fein and the DUP to reach an agreement to restore Stormont.
He added: “Brexit is the most dangerous economic, social and constitutional crisis to face this island since partition.
“It demands our immediate attention and our immediate response. We must return a system of sustainable devolution.
“The alternative is that we are dragged into direct rule, where the pro-brexit Tories and DUP have a free hand on our futures.
“Those of us elected on mandates to fight a hard Brexit must be able to do that.”
Democratic Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson has insisted his party is ready to go back into government.
He told BBC Radio Ulster: “Northern Ireland needs its voice represented in the Brexit negotiations. I call on Sinn Fein to abandon their policy of not allowing the executive to be formed.
“In the absence of an executive we cannot continue with the political vacuum.
“Big decisions need to be taken, not least on spending.
“We need the Secretary of State to publish his plans with how he intends to deal with the impasse. I think we are heading for a period of direct
rule.”
DERRY YESTERDAY