In this issue
IMPACT Audio Bulletin
Savings on hundreds of brands
Pay legislation progresses despite fears
No cash for primary health plan
Precarious work now common
Civil service recruitment problems flagged
IMPACT urges hard line on Brexit
Health reps defend ‘hidden heroes’
IMPACT urges hard line on Brexit
by Bernard Harbor
 

The Irish Government must be prepared to veto the start of EU-UK post-Brexit trade talks at this month’s crunch European Council meeting if adequate progress on Irish border issues has not been achieved, according to IMPACT. The call was made at a major Brexit conference organised by IMPACT and Siptu last month, just as the border issue moved centre-stage in the debate over Britain’s future relationship with the EU.

 

Speaking at the event in Letterkenny, IMPACT deputy general secretary Kevin Callinan expressed fears that Ireland’s economy could be sacrificed if movement on the Brexit ‘divorce bill’ convinces EU member states to concede on the issue of commencing trade talks before the border issue is satisfactorily tied down.

 

Kevin predicted that the resolve of many EU countries would be tested, despite a pledge by EU leaders that “sufficient progress” on avoiding a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic must also be achieved before trade talks open.

 

“Any significant divergence in EU and UK trade arrangements would make the maintenance of a frictionless border impossible. With movement likely on the ‘divorce bill,’ our Government must be prepared to veto a shift into trade talks before the border issue is adequately addressed. It will have the support of trade unions and their members if it becomes necessary to take this approach,” he said.

 

The symposium, on Brexit, the free movement of people, public services and the economy, featured speakers from unions, civil society organisations, business, farming and politics. It explored the potential economic, political and social impact of a hard border on the island of Ireland.

 

Callinan also warned against “levelling down” to weaker British standards on the environment, consumer protection, equality and workers’ rights after Brexit. “We will hear voices in Ireland saying we must level down as far as the UK – on workers’ right, citizens’ rights, public services, equal opportunities and environmental standards – in order to meet a new competitiveness challenge. Trade unions and other progressives will resist this siren’s call,” he said.

 

IMPACT’s north-western official Richie Carrothers said the British government was in the process of “dismantling the rights and entitlements of EU citizenship and all that brings.” He told the symposium that “the open border on this island was “a practical expression of the normalisation of politics, which was reflected in Northern Ireland’s majority referendum vote to remain in the EU.”

 

For more on this story, click HERE to listen to our Audio Bulletin (the Brexit story begins at 04:26).

LikeLike (0) | Facebook Twitter LinkedIn