Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson
DURING the extraordinary sitting of the European Parliament, the Sinn Féin MEPs, with the backing of GUE/NGL, submitted amendments in an attempt to raise the case of Ireland after the fallout from the Brexit vote.
Speaking after the vote, Martina Anderson MEP, said:
“Along with our parliamentary grouping GUE/NGL, we submitted motions, with several references to Ireland, to ensure the official position of the European Parliament recognised the nuance position our country is in now.
“Our amendments urged that the Parliament take note of, and respect, the result of the referendum and respects the fact that the north of Ireland and Scotland voted to remain in the EU.
“In saying this, we also emphasised how the British government have forfeited any mandate to represent the interests of people in the north of Ireland and in Scotland with regard to the EU.
“The BREXIT result threatens to jeopardise the peace process and therefore our motions called on the EU to continue to proactively support the peace process and to provide for its continuation in any negotiations on British withdrawal.
“Over 200 MEPs also voted in favour of this amendment, highlighting the regard at which the Peace Process is held, right across Europe.
“The result of the referendum also dislocates the northern and southern economies, which currently have 200,000 jobs depending on €1.2 billion of trade between them each week.
“This proves that Irish unity is not only practically viable, it is also economically viable and there is a democratic imperative for a referendum on Irish unity as provided for in the Good Friday Agreement, which we also highlighted today.”
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