Brexit will send ‘economic shockwaves’ across the 32 counties

“BREXIT” – Britian’s withdrawal from the EU – will send “economic shockwaves” across the island, Stormont Assembly member John O’Dowd said at the launch in Dublin of a Sinn Féin document, The Case for the North to Achieve Designated Special Status Within the EU.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams TD said the document will be sent to every political party leader on the island of Ireland and other interested parties seeking an informed debate of an as yet unquantifiable Brexit.

And he encouraged everyone – parties, groups and individuals – to get involved in the debate on what Brexit will mean for all of Ireland.

“Whether people are in Kerry or in Derry, no one knows where this Brexit is going to take us,” Gerry Adams said.

Both Gerry Adams and Upper Bann Assembly member John O’Dowd insisted that while Brexit will pose many challenges it also presents people across the island of Ireland with opportunities.

● Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon addresses the Seanad in Dublin

The Louth TD also quoted Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon from her recent visit to Dublin. 

Scotland, like the North of Ireland, voted to “Remain”. 

In her historic address to the Seanad, the Scottish National Party leader said:

“We are living in unprecedented times which require imagination, open minds and fresh thinking.”

The Sinn Féin leader said that republicans in Ireland are asking everybody to have open minds with imagination:

“The fact is that a majority of the people in the North refused to give their consent to leave the European Union. Sin é. No ifs, no buts. It’s very clear.”

John O’Dowd MLA said that if the people of England and Wales wish to leave the EU and have voted to do so then they should be allowed to do so.

But it’s damaging to democracy if the people of Wales and England decide the destiny of the people in the North of Ireland who voted to “Remain” by taking them out of the EU, he said.

Democracy is central to the Good Friday Agreement and the political framework, he said.

And “people – businesses, farmers, agri-food producers and consumers – in this part of the island,” the senior Sinn Féin MLA at Stormont said in Dublin, will feel the effects of Brexit as much as the North of Ireland.

John O’Dowd said that people who say “Designated Special Status” has never been before are correct because no major state has ever left the EU before.

“We are starting with a fresh page and the outcomes of political process and the Peace Process in the North show us that where’s there’s a will there’s a way.

“We are encouraging all the political parties across the island to engage in this debate.”

He said the Irish Government should use its political strength with not just the British Government but with all the EU states “to put front and centre that the best way forward for the North of Ireland and the island of Ireland is EU Special Status”.

Special status would protect not only the democratic and economic rights of the people of the North but it protects the economy of the island of Ireland.

“If the Irish Government wants a reason to act in the national interest, the economy is one area in which the Irish Government can act in the national interest.”

THE document notes in its introduction that there is growing concern in the North “and on the entire island of Ireland” about the economic consequences of Brexit, “the negative implications of which are already becoming clear”. 

What is certain, it says, is that there is no good outcome from Brexit and there is no way to manage or minimise the negative impact of Brexit. “It runs entirely contrary to Irish national interests.” 

The North being forced to leave the EU against the expressed wishes of its people will also represent a major set-back for the political process in the North, and directly challenge the integrity of the Good Friday Agreement, Sinn Féin argues.

Brexit would have “huge consequences” for protections contained within the Good Friday Agreement. “It also fundamentally undermines the principle of consent.”

It says:

“Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, there is an inherent right for those born on this island to Irish citizenship and, by virtue of that right, citizenship of the European Union as well. It is illogical that citizens who enjoy that right would not be afforded the benefits of that citizenship.”

A special status relationship outside of the EU would do little to deal with the massive political, social and economic challenges thrown up by Brexit, th document argues.

“Sinn Féin believes that the only credible approach is for the North to be designated a special status within the EU and for the whole island of Ireland to remain within the EU together.”

The document examines how this can be achieved in the here and now and details what this means in relation to:

• The case for the North to remain within the EU through designated special status and what that means for the upcoming negotiations;
• The Irish Peace Process and integrity and status of the Good Friday Agreement;
• Change needed at EU level.

It adds:

“We also cite examples where the EU has shown itself to be flexible in coming forward with pragmatic arrangements for dealing with complex situations.

“We need only look at unique arrangements between Greenland, Denmark and the EU as an example of how the EU has thus proved itself capable of accommodating unique circumstances and political flexibility.”