Friday, 12 May 2017

Michael Barnier's Brexit speech slammed by Irish politicians in parliament

Irish politicians attack Barnier

Despite his landmark speech delivered on the floor of the Irish parliament, Michael Barnier has given several condemnations from different politicians in Ireland after a careful look into details of his speech.

Moments after ending his speech, which cautioned that Brexit will come “at a cost” for all member states of the EU, a small number of nonplussed members of the Irish parliament gave a slam.

Socialist TD Richard Boyd Barrett took annoyance at the measures forced on Ireland after the bailout during the country’s economic crash, explaining it had inflicted “cruel and absolutely vicious austerity” on the country.

The politician also went further to lambast the EU chief negotiator and his colleagues in Brussels of working to achieve a “Fortress Europe” at the detriment of individual member states.

The TD said: "This week 350 refugees drowned in the Mediterranean because of the EU’s ‘Fortress Europe’ policies."

Thus, he refused to accept the EU’s right to negotiate outright with the UK, instead calling for an Irish referendum on whether or not to accept the final exit deal.

He said: "I don’t trust the European Union, Mr Barnier, to do a deal which will vindicate the need and aspirations of this country."

In a similar vein, Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein’s leader in the Republic and TD for Louth, also gave his criticism against Mr Barnier’s assertion which states that a good deal will be reached between Ireland and England.

He warned Mr Barnier: “Brexit will affect our entire island if we let it. It is already having a major negative effect.”

He said in light of challenges posed by Brexit, including the potential reintroduction of a hard border, Northern Ireland should be granted special status and be allowed to remain in the EU.

Mr Adams also called for a referendum on whether Ireland should accept the terms of the final Brexit deal agreed between Mr Barnier and the UK - further chipping away at Mr Barnier's right to negotiate on behalf of an entire union of states.


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