SF In Call For EU Officials To Protect Border Regions

Sinn Fein MEP's Matt McCarthy and Martina Anderson have met with Chief Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels to press the need to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement and protect citizens living on the Irish border.

The meeting on Wednesday 10 April was ahead of the EU's decision to approve an extension to the Brexit deadline until 31 October.

Speaking from Brussels following the meeting, MEP for the Midlands North West Matt Carthy said the conversation had been constructive and addressed the potential impact of a no-deal Brexit.

"It was particularly important for me, as someone from the border county of Monaghan, to again set out the potential devastating economic, political and social impact Brexit could have on our communities, farmers, workers and businesses," he commented. "We impressed upon Mr Barnier our view that any new border controls imposed on the island of Ireland by either the British government, the Irish government or the EU, in the case of a no-deal Brexit to be absolutely unacceptable and unworkable.

"On the question of a potential no-deal Brexit, we urged Mr Barnier to give serious consideration to Sinn Féin’s proposal for substantial emergency EU funding for the regions and sectors in Ireland that will be most severely affected by such an economic shock."

Mr McCarthy also called on the Irish Government to step up emergency contingency funding. He continued: "In the event of a no-deal Brexit we need to work with the EU to implement creative solutions that will allow the North to remain membership of the customs union and the single market, and to continue to provide the vital EU funding for our community and development sector that has benefited it substantially over the past decades."



(JG/MH)