Howlin engages with British Labour on Irish Brexit concerns

Speaking after the first day of his visit to the British Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Brendan Howlin TD, Leader of the Irish Labour Party spoke about his hope that the British Labour Party would champion Ireland’s interests during the current negotiations on Brexit.

Deputy Howlin said:

“Other than the United Kingdom, no country will be as greatly affected by Brexit as Ireland. I was delighted today to have the opportunity to speak to my British Labour Party colleagues about the reality of Brexit’s likely effects on Ireland and Northern Ireland.

“Bluntly, for Ireland, there is no ‘good’ version of Brexit, hard or soft. Ireland’s approach to Brexit has always been very clearly based on damage limitation.

“Obviously, the best outcome for Ireland would be one where there is a second referendum, in which the British people have the opportunity to democratically decide, based on new information, about the different options for the UK’s relationship with the European Union.

“Ireland would warmly welcome an outcome where the British people decided to remain in the EU.

“I hope that we can count on our many friends in the British Labour Party and the Labour Movement here to vocally champion Ireland’s interests, and to ensure that the gains made by the Good Friday Agreement are not sacrificed in the final, fraught negotiations.”

ENDS