Northern Ireland should have observer status MEPs in the European Parliament, says Ó Ríordáin
Speaking today in Brussels alongside Claire Hanna MP, leader of the SDLP, and Matthew O’Toole MLA, leader of the opposition in the Stormont assembly; Dublin MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin backed the recommendations of the SDLP policy paper “Our European Future” – in particular the call for observer status MEPs for Northern Ireland in the European Parliament.
“I was delighted to host Claire and Matthew in the European Parliament today to launch their new policy paper “Our European Future”.
“It is clear that Brexit had led to a rupture in the human and political connection between Northern Ireland and Europe. Irish citizens in Northern Ireland are the only birthright EU citizens without representation in the European Parliament.
“During the Brexit negotiations, the solidarity from the EU to Northern Ireland was real and it was felt on the ground in Ireland – however since Brexit, the issue has fallen off the agenda in Brussels.
“I am delighted to see the proposals within the policy paper coming from the SDLP, in particular I think the idea of observer status MEPs for Northern Ireland is something we should work to achieve.
“As the first Irish Labour S&D MEP in over 10 years, I feel a sense of responsibility to bring the SDLP closer into the fold of the European Socialist family. I have proposed a number of steps to do this within the S&D Group to our President Iratxe Garcia Perez. I am delighted she has accepted our request to have Claire Hanna MP speak to our full Group meeting. In addition to this we have proposed a permanent observer status for the SDLP in our Group and a traineeship for young people from Northern Ireland to be set up in honour of the late John Hume – who served as an MEP in the S&D Group.
“I firmly believe that Northern Ireland’s future is European. I look forward to working with our friends in the SDLP to delivering on our shared European future together.”
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The proposals within “Our European Future” include:
* Representation for Northern Ireland in the European Parliament, eg via observer MEPs
* The opening of an EU Commission office in Belfast
* Enhanced youth mobility opportunities for all NI young people, including full participation in Erasmus
* Additional support to help Northern Ireland take advantage of dual market access to create investment and jobs
* A refreshed mapping exercise on the impacts of Brexit on cross-border economic, social and cultural life, including for frontier workers
* A focus on the impacts of post-Brexit mobility challenges to the all-island economy, including as a result of the UK Government’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
Full details can be found on www.sdlp.ie