Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy has said that it is imperative that the democratic wishes of people in the North of Ireland are upheld and that this meant that North must be granted special designated status within the EU in any Brexit deal.
Speaking on a leaked EU paper on Brexit negotiations and the implications for Ireland, he said it vindicated Sinn Féin’s long-held position that any hard border on the island undermines the Good Friday Agreement
He added that the Irish Government must not waver or deviate from the position that to protect Irish national interests and peace process, the North of Ireland has to remain within the single market and the customs union.
Matt Carthy said:
“The EU and the Irish Government need to stand form on the point that it is imperative that there should be no hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit.
“Any such outcome is entirely incompatible with the Good Friday Agreement and has grave economic implications for all of Ireland.
“Sinn Féin has said this from the outset and it is now clear that this is also the position of the EU.
“The leaked EU paper vindicates Sinn Féin’s view that the British Government must commit to avoiding a hard border, protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts, while ensuring that the rules of the single market and customs union are met.
“The only way to do this is f for the North of Ireland to be afforded designated special status within the European Union.
“The North must remain within the single market and customs union.
“The Irish Government must not waver or deviate from this position in the Brexit negotiations. They need to stand up for Ireland’s interests, the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement.”
