24/01/2019
Brexit: UUP Call On Irish Govt To Change Brexit Strategy
Ulster Unionist Party Leader Robin Swann has urged the Irish Government to change their tactics around Brexit and open a channel of direct engagement with MP's in Westminster.
The UK is due to leave the European Union in a mere 64 days, with a withdrawal agreement not yet in place.
The Irish border remains a key issue in the negotiations, with the European Commission commenting earlier this week that it is "obvious" there will be a hard-border in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
The UUP leader branded these comments as evidence that the EU is "largely flying by the seat of its past" and repeated calls for the extension of Article 50 to allow more time for negotiations.
"At this late stage it is totally reckless for the EU Commission to start throwing around threats of a hard border, particularly when it totally contradicts what both they and the Irish Government have previously been saying, as recently as in the last 24 hours with a statement from the Office of the Taoiseach.
"The Irish Government should change tact in what time is left for negotiations and seek to engage directly with the UK Government as the two parties who are most aware of the need for pragmatism that comes with the geography and history of these islands.
"We have already made a call to see the Common Travel Area for people replicated for goods. The CTA for people has operated perfectly well and saw the Republic of Ireland negotiate to opt out of Schengen. We desperately need to see the same creativity and pragmatism in the coming weeks."
(JG/CM)
The UK is due to leave the European Union in a mere 64 days, with a withdrawal agreement not yet in place.
The Irish border remains a key issue in the negotiations, with the European Commission commenting earlier this week that it is "obvious" there will be a hard-border in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
The UUP leader branded these comments as evidence that the EU is "largely flying by the seat of its past" and repeated calls for the extension of Article 50 to allow more time for negotiations.
"At this late stage it is totally reckless for the EU Commission to start throwing around threats of a hard border, particularly when it totally contradicts what both they and the Irish Government have previously been saying, as recently as in the last 24 hours with a statement from the Office of the Taoiseach.
"The Irish Government should change tact in what time is left for negotiations and seek to engage directly with the UK Government as the two parties who are most aware of the need for pragmatism that comes with the geography and history of these islands.
"We have already made a call to see the Common Travel Area for people replicated for goods. The CTA for people has operated perfectly well and saw the Republic of Ireland negotiate to opt out of Schengen. We desperately need to see the same creativity and pragmatism in the coming weeks."
(JG/CM)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
