20/07/2016
SDLP: Assurances Needed For No New Border Across The Island
The Home Office and Northern Ireland Office has been called to engage with the Irish Government and NI political parties to give firm assurances that there will be no new border across the island.
SDLP MP for South Belfast, Alasdair McDonnell, made the call after his debate on the implications of the Leave vote for the UK-Ireland border.
Dr McDonnell said: "The recent EU referendum result sent shock waves right across the world: economically and politically. It was a bad decision taken for all the wrong reasons. 56% of people in Northern Ireland voted to remain and my SDLP colleagues and I will do everything in our power to ensure that we are not dragged out of the European Union against our will.
"Leaving the Customs Union would necessitate customs checks and possibly travel restrictions at the border. I have called on the Home Office to consider a 'Special Customs' status for Northern Ireland, whereby it is treated as being within the Customs Union for goods and services. There are precedents for this, which must be fully explored.
"Moreover, there can be no obstacles to the free travel that now exists between North and South. This is critical for cross-border workers, for students and traders and for the social networks that exist at all levels between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland."
(CD/JP)
SDLP MP for South Belfast, Alasdair McDonnell, made the call after his debate on the implications of the Leave vote for the UK-Ireland border.
Dr McDonnell said: "The recent EU referendum result sent shock waves right across the world: economically and politically. It was a bad decision taken for all the wrong reasons. 56% of people in Northern Ireland voted to remain and my SDLP colleagues and I will do everything in our power to ensure that we are not dragged out of the European Union against our will.
"Leaving the Customs Union would necessitate customs checks and possibly travel restrictions at the border. I have called on the Home Office to consider a 'Special Customs' status for Northern Ireland, whereby it is treated as being within the Customs Union for goods and services. There are precedents for this, which must be fully explored.
"Moreover, there can be no obstacles to the free travel that now exists between North and South. This is critical for cross-border workers, for students and traders and for the social networks that exist at all levels between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland."
(CD/JP)
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