Flags that are now on a divergent course
By Anthony Neeson and Ray O’Hanlon
Sinn Féin is calling for a border poll on Irish reunification after the United Kingdom - at least the English and Welsh part of it - voted to leave the European Union.
In the early hours of this morning the vote, by 52% to 48% to leave the EU, was confirmed after yesterday’s referendum.
However, the majority of people in Northern Ireland – 56% – voted to remain in the EU.
The majority of people in Scotland also voted to stay.
In the hours after the shock result, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced his intention to resign after the summer, the pound plunged on the financial markets, and the Scottish Nationalist Party said they wanted a fresh referendum on Scottish Independence.
In Ireland, Sinn Féin MEP (Member of the European Parliament) Matt Carthy said a referendum on a united Ireland is now “vital.”
“The British government has no mandate to drag the north of Ireland out of the EU,” he said.
“It has no mandate to re-erect border controls between north and south.”
He added: “A referendum on a united Ireland is now a democratic imperative and it is incumbent that the Irish government and all Irish nationalist parties support this demand.”
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said the people of the north of Ireland “nationalists, republicans, unionists and others have made it clear at the polls that they wish to remain in the EU.”
“The British government now need to take account of that and recognize that reality and allow the people of the North to have their say on their own future,” he added.
North First Minister Arlene Foster, whose DUP party were the only main party in Northern Ireland to back a leave vote, said: “I think this is a good result for the United Kingdom. Our nation state has made a clear definition as to where they want to go forward.”
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the North voted to remain in the EU and added “Ireland’s rightful place is at the heart of Europe.”
“There can be no return to a physical border across this island,” he said.
"There must remain freedom of movement for people, goods and services across Ireland.”
The Irish government met this morning to discuss the ramifications for Ireland in the wake of the Brexit.
Speaking afterwards, Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced that the Dáil is to be recalled on Monday to discuss the impact of the referendum.
He also said the government has a contingency plan to deal with the UK leaving the EU.
Meanwhile, following the referendum result Google has reported that there has been a one hundred percent plus surge in people from Northern Ireland looking to apply for Irish passports.
Irish passport holders will remain EU citizens and will be able to travel and work throughout the continent.
Separately, and after the Irish cabinet’s meeting, foreign minister Charlie Flanagan released a statement.
He said: "The UK electorate has decided in yesterday’s referendum that it wishes to leave the European Union. While this is certainly not the result which I or the government had hoped for, we have very much been prepared for both possible outcomes.
“There will now follow a period of great challenge for the UK, for the EU and for Ireland - but this is a challenge which will be met. In this context considerable work has already been undertaken right across government to prepare a contingency framework to address the various sectoral issues that will arise.
“As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I wish to emphasize the following three points this morning: First, Ireland is - and will remain – closely aligned to both the EU and the UK. Ireland will of course remain in the EU and in the Eurozone, while we will also do everything to protect our political, economic and people-to-people links to the UK.
“As part of the government’s contingency framework, I will ensure that our diplomatic resources are utilized to the full in the important period ahead with appropriate capabilities put in place in Ireland, the UK, in Brussels and elsewhere.
“Secondly, a key priority for me will be the ongoing work to support stability, reconciliation and prosperity for the people in Northern Ireland.
“The UK’s exit from the EU will bring changes, but the Irish government has emphasized all along - in its contacts with EU partners, the UK government and the parties in Northern Ireland - that the Northern Ireland and all-island dimensions will be an area for priority attention in all post-referendum negotiations processes, including in relation to the status of the border.
“Thirdly, I wish to stress that the UK is not leaving the EU immediately and that all arrangements, rights and facilities linked to EU membership still apply in full.
“A negotiation process will get underway and will take a minimum of two years prior to a UK exit. During that time the UK remains an EU member state and participating in the workings of the Union.
“With these priorities in mind, I have initiated a round of contacts with British counterparts and with party leaders in Northern Ireland.
“I have asked Irish ambassadors from key EU capitals to travel to Dublin to discuss next steps, which will include high level political contacts with the EU.
Yesterday, I addressed all EU ambassadors to Ireland and outlined the government’s priorities for both possible outcomes of this referendum.
I also intend to maintain the outreach and engagement with the Irish community in the UK to ensure their concerns are taken on board as the negotiations process moves forward.
“We will also work with all stakeholders, including with Irish employers’ representatives who trade with the UK, and with whom I discussed contingency planning in recent weeks as chair of the government’s Export Trade Council.
“Irish embassies and consulates will work closely with state agencies to continue to develop all of Ireland’s dynamic trading relationships, including of course the highly important business links with the UK."
