Ireland will not remain silent on UK vote on EU

IRELAND will argue strongly and publicly for Britain to stay in the European Union if a referendum is held on the issue, Foreign Affairs Minister, Charlie Flanagan, will state today.

In a landmark speech to be delivered in London, Mr Flanagan will make it clear that for many reasons the Dublin Government cannot remain silent if Britain holds a suggested plebiscite on its EU membership after next summer's general election. The Foreign Affairs Minister said the Irish Government will be obliged by the closest ever economic and political links between the two islands to make its views heard respectfully but very clearly.

"Irish people north and south have many serious issues at stake were Britain to end its membership of the European Union. These issues are fundamental and we cannot remain silent on these matters," Mr Flanagan told the Irish Independent.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to hold a referendum on Britain's EU membership if he is re-elected next summer. The opposition Labour Party's stance is less clear but there is every chance British citizens will be asked to vote on the issue as early as 2017 as anti-EU public sentiment grows.

Today the Foreign Affairs Minister will stress that he respects the right of the British people to decide their own relationship with the EU.

He will also point out that British-Irish relations are at their best point ever in the long history of the two islands, epitomised by successful reciprocal state visits by the British Queen Elizabeth in 2011, and President Higgins in April this year.

Mr Flanagan will argue that the EU has been extremely good for Britain, for Northern Ireland, the Republic and the whole island of Ireland. "If the UK were to leave the European Union there would be significant economic, political and social consequences for Northern Ireland especially," Mr Flanagan summed up.

He will point out the huge importance of Britain as an export market for Ireland. But he will also stress Ireland's place as the fifth biggest importer of British goods. He will argue that Ireland has every right to clearly express its views on such a fundamental decision by its biggest trading partner.

Mr Flanagan will argue that both countries have grown together during its more than 40 years of EU membership. He will say that they have made common cause on many issues and cooperated well.

The minister will also say Ireland has considerable sympathy with British criticisms of how the EU currently operates and the need for change and reform. Both countries agree the need to cut red tape and address the democratic deficit. "Ireland is, and always has been, open and pragmatic on these and other EU issues," Mr Flanagan will say.

He said that the new EU Commission headed by Jean-Claude Juncker is already determined to overhaul EU workings and there will be reform negotiations which should yield progress. Mr Flanagan defended the decision to stay out of the Scottish referendum campaign in September.

Irish Independent