Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Border Region Development Brendan Smith will outline his concerns in relation to the forthcoming Brexit Referendum and the possible implications for the island of Ireland of Britain leaving the EU at the SDLP Annual Conference in Derry this weekend.

The Cavan-Monaghan TD is participating in a policy session, “The EU – Central to our Economic Future”.

Deputy Brendan Smith commented, “The benefits of European Union membership are visible throughout all of this island and many of the social, cultural and economic relationships between North and South and between Ireland and Britain is simplified by the fact that both are EU members.  This has allowed us to forge common bonds at EU level and to foster good working relationships.  Undoubtedly, the positive relationships and common bonds developed at EU level were, and continue to be, central to the workings of the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process.

“European Union funds have also played an integral role in facilitating peace and improving relations on the island of Ireland.  These funds have been used to support peace and reconciliation initiatives, cross-border projects, as well as the disparities that arise from peripherality, which are all the more acute in the border regions themselves.

“I look forward to participating in the policy session, “The EU – Central to our Economic Future” along with Glyn Roberts CEO NIIRTA, Dr. Alasdair McDonnell MP,  Margaret Ritchie MP and Patsy McGlone MLA.   Such policy sessions and conferences are needed to create a much better awareness of how critical the forthcoming British Referendum is to everyone on this island”, concluded Deputy Brendan Smith.

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