Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2015
11. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his assessment of the impact on Ireland if Britain leaves the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45037/15]
View answerI have partially addressed this subject in my reply to Question No. 10.
As independent studies have shown, a UK withdrawal from the EU would have negative implications for Ireland. There is, at this stage, little doubt about that. Determining the full impact of such a complex scenario is, however, extremely difficult, especially given that much would depend on the exact terms of a future UK relationship with the EU.
Nevertheless, we are working across Government to improve our understanding of the various issues that might arise for Ireland in the event of a fundamental change in the EU-UK relationship. The Department of the Taoiseach has a leading role in this process and my Department is heavily involved, including through our Embassy in London, our Consulate General in Edinburgh and our offices in Northern Ireland. Other Departments are also playing their part.
One obvious area that could be significantly affected is the performance of our economy. A study by the Economic and Social Research Institute, which was commissioned by the Department of Finance, was very clear on this point. That study also highlighted other challenges that might arise, including in terms of migration and in the energy sector.
It is also the Government’s view that a UK departure from the Union could be damaging for Northern Ireland in particular. That is because the EU has been a force for good for everyone in the North, whether through supporting the peace process or by helping to create jobs and employment. I recently spoke at a seminar in Queen’s University Belfast in which I elaborated on those points and explained why I believed continued EU membership is in the interests of the people there.
The Government fully recognises that we must be prepared for any scenario, including the possibility that the UK may ultimately opt to leave the EU. However, our priority is doing all we can to ensure the UK remains in the Union in the first place. We will continue to work towards that goal, especially as we enter a crucial period of EU negotiations on a potential package of reforms acceptable to the UK and all EU Member States.
