British Government operating against Irish, Scottish and Welsh interests on EU referendum

A PLANNED in/out referendum on European Union membership by the new Conservative Government in Westminster – if passed – would be disastrous for the economy of Ireland, it has been warned.

Sinn Féin Economic Spokesperson Daithí McKay MLA says a situation where the north of Ireland is outside of the EU while the rest is in would be economically devastating to the island as a whole:

"We now have in place at Westminster an English government operating against Scottish, Welsh and Irish opinion that we are better off in the EU," he said.

Sinn Féin says a situation is developing where the views of English voters will be able to dictate the future relationship of the North of Ireland with Europe.

Daithí McKay also warned that the North being forced out of the EU would make the border an even greater barrier to economic growth and job creation, and reinforce partition:

"It would remove hundreds of millions of pounds in terms of PEACE funding. EU funding from 2007 to 2013 was worth £2.4billion to the North. There is a clear need for progressive parties, for the farming community, for fisheries and for the business community to put forward the arguments now that we are economically better off in the European Union."

Sinn Féin previously described the planned referendum by the Conservatives as a "paranoid political reaction to the perceived electoral threat of the euro-skeptic UKIP" and has called for a separate, legally binding vote for the North of Ireland on EU membership.

The incoming Scottish First Minister – Nicola Sturgeon of the Scottish National Party – said forcing Scotland out of the EU would be "democratically indefensible" and says her party will table an amendment to any bill on a referendum requiring that England, Scotland, Wales and the North of Ireland must each have to agree to a withdrawal.

"With only a mere 9,055 votes for the Tories in the North of Ireland, how can we be dictated to by them or by London on whether or not we should stay in the EU?" asked McKay.