Irish taoiseach urges Northern Ireland to back staying in single market

Irish taoiseach urges Northern Ireland to back staying in single market

Ireland’s prime minister has told unionists in Northern Ireland that it will be easier to protect the union they support with Britain if the UK stays in the European single market.

The taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, said that rather than pressing the EU for special status for Northern Ireland post-Brexit, it would be better if the entire UK remained inside a customs union with Europe.

Speaking on his first official visit to Belfast on Friday, Varadkar also pointed out that after Brexit everyone in Northern Ireland entitled to an Irish passport would remain an EU citizen.

Unionists have opposed proposals from Sinn Féin and other nationalist parties for special status to be given to Northern Ireland in its relationship with the EU. The unionist parties fear that special status could decouple the region from the rest of the UK after Brexit.
                                                                                                     Read More...