BREXIT REACTION: 'A heartbreaker' and 'seriously disappointing'
TDs and groups have begun to air their views on the shocking Brexit decision that will see Britain leave the EU, leaving Ireland facing an uncertain ecomonic future.
Deputy Niamh Smyth has described the Brexit decision as “a heartbreaker” and believes that the Border counties will be hit harder than most in tourism trade.
“Towns like Monaghan, Clones and Emyvale, for example, are only getting back on their feet from when there were borders before in past times.
“Nobody likes uncertainty, everybody likes to have a plan and to work towards that and we have gained so much by being part of the EU and with Northern Ireland being part of that as well in terms of EU funding as we have in terms of infrastructure in Cavan-Monaghan.
“We just don’t know what the implications on that are going to be and on people working in the North and living in the south, of which there are lots in Cavan-Monaghan again - what’s that going to mean for their daily lives? It’s heartbreaking to see this result this morning,” she said.
‘Seriously disappointed’
“I am seriously disappointed with the decision of the British electorate to leave the European Union,” said Fianna Fail’s Brendan Smith TD.
“We will have an EU land border across our island with all its negative implications.
“This will impact on our everyday living particularly in border counties and will affect trade and employment. Britain is our nearest neighbour and largest trading partner and exports of agri-food products will be particularly affected and this industry is so important to Cavan-Monaghan,” he said.
Farming reaction
IFA President Joe Healy, while expressing disappointment at the outcome of the UK referendum, has emphasised the need for the Irish Government to immediately take decisive steps to allay the concerns in farming and the agri-food sector about the implications of the vote.
“The outcome of the UK vote has major implications for Irish agriculture and the agri-food sector. The Government must give a clear signal that the issues of major importance to this sector, our trading relationship with the UK and Northern Ireland and and the EU budget, will be central to the EU-UK negotiations. Minimising uncertainty and setting out a clear strategy on the next steps is a priority,” he said.
Special treatment needed
'The Leave vote in the UK referendum poses a significant challenge to the Irish government and to the European Project,' said Independent MEP Marian Harkin when she called for the government to immediately assess the result and take steps to reassure citizens and Irish business by engaging immediately with the British government on matters of common interest.
“This result is a reflection of the failure of the EU to convince the citizens of the UK that they benefit from EU membership but it also reflects voter disenchantment with the main political parties”, she said.
'The close economic relationship between Ireland and the UK required that the EU should have special regard from that connection in any decisions taken as negotiations on leaving develop.
“The vote to leave poses a major challenge to Ireland’s economy as it emerges from the trauma of recent years and the EU owes Ireland special consideration in any conditions governing the exit of the UK.”
'In particular there could be no change to the free movement of people within Ireland and no reinstatement of border, controls which would adversely affect economies on both sides of the border,' she said.