Irish PM wants clause in Brexit deal to guarantee Northern Ireland’s place in EU ‘after reunification’
Enda Kenny said he wants the Brexit deal to include a ‘United Ireland’ clause that would allow “ease of access” for the North
IRELAND is pushing Brussels to pave the way for Northern Ireland to join the EU in the event of Irish reunification.
Enda Kenny said he wants the Brexit deal to include a ‘United Ireland’ clause that would allow “ease of access” for the province.
He said Northern Ireland should receive the same treatment as East Germany when it was reunited with West Germany in 1990.
Dublin accepts such reunification could be many years away.
But the claim will infuriate unionists – and delight the SNP who want Scotland to stay within the EU when the rest of the UK leaves.
Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU in the Referendum.
The Good Friday agreement allows for a united Ireland if democratically backed in Northern Ireland.
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Speaking yesterday Mr Kenny said: “We want that language inserted into the negotiated treaty, the negotiated outcome, whenever that might occur.”
Referring to the Good Friday agreement he said: “It provides for that opportunity…in respect of that situation that arose when the Berlin Wall was taken down and East Germany was able to join West Germany in a seamless fashion.”
Separately European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker insisted there should be no “hard border” between the North and the Republic as a result of Brexit.
He said: “”We want to have the Good Friday Agreement not being put at risk and we want the land border being as open as possible.”