Brexit deal raises Border Poll question once more

The reaching of Brexit agreement is forcing a conversation to plan for a united Ireland, a local TD has claimed.

Sinn Féin Deputy Matt Carthy says Brexit has accelerated the Irish unity debate.

Eleven days after the deadline had passed, negotiating teams from the EU and the UK delivered the Christmas present businesses across Ireland had hoped for: Christmas Eve saw the announcement that the European Union had approved the post-Brexit trade deal with the UK.

The British parliament are set to ratify the deal today (Wednesday).

European Union Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said the trade deal with the UK was a relief and provided stability for people and companies. Mr Barnier said there were still some elements to define in the EU’s future relationship with the UK, including on foreign policy co-operation.

The Trade and Co-operation Agreement between the UK and the EU received a cautious welcome from Northern Ireland parties when it was announced on December 24.

Customs and regulatory controls on cross-Channel commerce will come into effect from January 1 after Britain leaves the EU single market.

“A no deal would have been catastrophic, for Ireland, Britain and the wider European Union,” Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith said of the conclusion of talks.

“There is no such thing as a good Brexit for Ireland. Brexit is bad news all round.”

The changes to our trading, business and commerce relations are something Deputy Smith says is regrettable, but he feels relieved by the outcome of the negotiations: “Thankfully the deal ensures that there are no tariffs between Britain and the EU.

“For business that trade through Britain, there will be new customs and regulatory requirements. That is an additional burden on businesses. Covid has presented more business challenges. We are a trading country and we depend on external markets to sell our products. Many companies operate on a slim profit margin so additional costs can cause them loss of competitiveness. That is a concern going forward,” Deputy Smith told the Celt.

The opinion of the former Agriculture Minister was echoed across the chamber by Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Agriculture, Matt Carthy.

“It’s welcome that a trade agreement is in place. The fact that there are no tariffs bodes well, but there will be additional costs for many businesses, particularly the agri-food sector. Those affected will need to receive support from government. At the end of the day Brexit is bad for Ireland. We have minimised the deal by securing this deal at the 11th hour,” Deputy Carthy said.

The Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture says the state of play raises the conversation of a Border Poll and Irish unity: “Brexit has accelerated that debate. Brexit accentuated the undemocratic nature of partition. The people in the north voted to stay in the EU, but are forced to leave it. This has shown to a whole new generation that partition does not work in the interest of anyone in Ireland. The government must put in place the framework where a conversation can take place to plan for what a united Ireland will look like. That way, when a poll takes place, people will clear on what they are voting for.”

For Deputy Smith the Border Poll conversation is a little further off: “The Good Friday Agreement was overwhelmingly endorsed by the people North and South in Referenda in May 1998. The mandate that we all have is to implement in full that Agreement. We should focus our work in intensifying the development of the all Ireland economy and the provision of better public services for all with more and more collaboration and delivery on an all island basis.

“There is a provision in the Agreement for a Border Poll. Articles two and three of our constitution were changed with the Good Friday Agreement to put in place a mechanism to reunite our country when people north and south agree to do so. I look forward to that day,” he concluded.