United Ireland Referendum 'Vital' - Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin has called for a referendum on a United Ireland following the UK's decision to leave the European Union.

A number of the party's MEP's are urging for a new referendum, with Matt Carthy calling the move "vital".

"The British Government has no mandate to drag the north of Ireland out of the EU. It has no mandate to re-erect border controls between north and south," Minister Carthy said.

"Irish interests are being actively and gravely damaged by the decisions taken in England. 

"The north of Ireland has voted to remain in the EU. The British Government cannot now negotiate on behalf of people there to exit the European Union.

"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. To do anything less would be to betray the best interests of the Irish people."

The view was shared by MEP Martina Anderson, who said the "onus (was) on the British government to recognise the vote in the devolved administrations".

The party's Deputy Leader and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness, said leaving the European Union will be to the detriment of everyone in society. 

"This decision to drag us out of the European Union against our democratically expressed wishes, has nothing to do with issues around the European institutions and everything to do with the civil war within the British Tory party," Mr 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 recognise that reality and allow the people of the north to have their say on their own future. 

"Dragging us out of Europe will be to the detriment of all our citizens and will be bad for business, trade, investment, and wider society

"I, and all Sinn Féin ministers will work to ensure the political institutions remain on a stable footing but it is very difficult to put detailed contingencies in place until we know the extent of the impact of Brexit on our finances, our infrastructure and health services.

"All of that is still subject to a negotiation but the fact is that we are in unchartered waters.

"Sinn Féin will be seeking an urgent meeting with the Irish government, the European institutions and also with our counterparts in Scotland to discuss how we move forward in the best interests of all of our people."

(MH)