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NORTHERN IRELAND’S POLITICIANS have to make “their voices heard” on the question of whether or not the UK remains in the EU, the Minister of State Brian Hayes said today.
Speaking at the conference of the new NI21 party, he said “it matters to us very much indeed about the future relationship of Britain with the European Union. It is in Ireland’s national interest that Britain should remain a full member of the European Union”.
He added: “Northern Ireland’s voice has been noticeably absent in the British debate on EU membership. I think it is time for that voice to be heard.”
The edge of Europe
He said the island of Ireland “is already on the edge of Europe” and if Britain disengages from Europe it will make the case for investment in Northern Ireland “even more challenging”.
If the UK does leave the EU, Hayes said there would be “serious consequences” for both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, he added.
Hayes said everyone needs to focus on how the two economies might grow and prosper together and provide job opportunities and a sustainable future.
He added:
In Europe today, there are no such things as independent nation states. A financial crisis in one impacts on the economy of another.Northern Ireland’s future is ultimately dependent on its inter-connectedness with the island of Ireland, the wider UK and the EU.
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Brian f-ing who?!
Can’t bear the fact that people listen to this creature.
The irony is if the UK leaves the EU, People living in NI will have more sovereignty as Irish people than those annexed into the EU superstate down south.
“People living in NI will have more sovereignty as Irish people than those annexed into the EU superstate down south.”
I think you’ll find that Irish people view the North as the state annexed to a farcical regime, a hangover from imperialism well past it’s sell by date.
Why would anyone in NI listen to Brian Hayes when nobody down here does. He’s nothing but a rent a mouth.
Why would he ask them to make their voices heard when neither governing parties in the north are pro-EU.
Strange or stupid?
Making sounds about the EU, job coming up, expect lots of “Brian and the EU” stories.
I hadn’t thought of that that Jim.
I should’ve asked: strange, stupid or sly little pr1ck?
A Northern Ireland outside of the EU, while the Republic is inside it wouldn’t be a preference of Shinners either.
Well I guess the NI21 party asked him to speak at their conference, so maybe they would be interested.
Anyway, it is a pity that talking about the message rather than just attacking the messenger seems beyond most of the idiots on here. Do any of you actually have a view on what NI’s position on the UK’s membership of the EU should be or is consideration of topic’s like that beyond your academic abilities?
Ah rent a mouth is back. Smug little so n so.
Very insightful, Leslie- as always. An articulate, calculated and comprehensive analysis of the article and the points being made.
Thanks kevin I love you too ol boy
Dear thejournal.ie
Is there a facility where I don’t have to listen to “chip on the shoulder rock” every day. It’s depressing listen to him and his god awful negativity.
Yours
Tiger
“It is in Ireland’s national interest that Britian remain in the EU.” What the fu….ck would you know Hayes about our a “National interest”?
It is in Brian Hayes……”INTEREST” that Britain remain in the EU. Britain’s withdraw could bring down the EU and destroy Brian Hayes future “interest” and ambitions with a possible lucrative position within Europe’s cosy cartel. That is after Brian Hayes “national interest” in securing Brian Hayes Irish ministerial pension, deceitfully. And after Brian Hayes in conjunction with his Party have rightly fu………cked the Irish peoples “National Interest” and sold our sovereignty!
What else will those BAS…..TARDS pull out of their arse’s and expect us to forget their lies and broken election promises?
Yeh. Its called resign from the journal.so we don’t have to listen to your constant defending of the indefensible
Oh dear, Michael. You’re one of the “Special People”, aren’t you?
Thanks Kevin
Welcome to the club Michael – I’m a bit special myself. In fact Ireland is “a special case” Vote Fine Gael now ya hear! My job in Europe depends on it.
I don’t defend them – it’s your constant waffling and negativity i’ve a problem with. You’re an insatiable boring, whining loser whose sole role on this news forum is to depress everyone else into the slavish mefein attitude you hold towards life in general.
@tiger bayliss ,Yea you can log off ya dope
I have no idea what you are even attempting to say here. Have we not benefited from our membership of the European Union, it has helped bring peace to Northern Ireland and yes there is no such thing as a completely independent nation state existing in splendid isolation anymore. The British need us just like we need the British. No one needs the ultra conservative UKIP. It’s high time voters in the North had their voice heard, the interests of the north are the wider interests of Ireland. The island economy must be protected from ultra British conservatives.
@Richie, where have we benefited for our membership of the EU? Shortly after joining we went into a recession in the late 70′s right through to the 90′s, we then went into a false economic boom and then we went…..SMASH…face down. There we will remain for at least another ten years, I myself believe it will be longer!
“Benefited” I fail to see that…..”BENEFIT.”
And the EU had nothing to do with the Peace in the North of Ireland. That Peace was hard fought for by the Nationalist communities!
@ Michael I think we should look closer to home for a lot of our current difficulties including deceitful governments giving bankers a free ride and buying votes. We the general public need to learn from that. But I suppose what has the EU ever done for us? Structural funds for the vast improvements we have in our road network and a huge amount of other projects around the country. When it comes to the north; are you really so unaware of the amount of money the EU pump into the north for community projects helping bring some level of normality and building bridges between both communities. A lot of people fought for their rights in the north but you seem to be someone who thinks it’s not important anymore because it’s not in the news everyday. A peaceful north is vital for investment both north and south. How could you possibly miss the importance of an economic union when attracting investment to Ireland. The UK were given a warning from Nissan last week. You leave the EU we leave you. If we leave the EU what do you suggest we do? The north needs a reasoned voice.
Richie do you really think that the UK really need the likes of Nissan to advice them or allow them to issue threats? Many companies the likes of Nissan would only be to grateful to get into the UK to do business.
Richie look what we have forfeit in terms of National resources and business since we joined the EU. Irish sugar factories for starters and all other supply companies that were unnecessarily closed with the loss of many small indigenous businesses and employment! Our fisheries and agriculture should be thriving sustainable businesses but have been subjected to EU quotas and thus made reliant on injections of EU grants? The EU build a few roads and you think we cannot do without them, it is all a distraction from what we lost. Just like a magician and his trick, it is the hand you cannot see which is the one you should have been watching before being deceived!
@Michael Nissan are in the UK because the UK are in the EU. I never said it was ideal, what I’m saying is it’s a reality. I’m sick of hearing these guys did this, that and the other…. The reason sugar factories were lost and fisheries not living up to their potential is because our politicians are too shite for words. Remember Coughlan in the Dáil saying ‘we’ll I’m not that bad’ under her breath as a defence to incompetence. A later report from Europe proved the sugar factories should not have been closed. Parish pump under educated politicians are what needs to change in this country. But seriously what is your alternative to the EU?
The EU is a failed economic adventure because we were all walked into a political-banking quagmire, with eyes wide open. The economic concept was lost long way back along the adventure trail and Europe was submerged!
Michael – Your alternative?
@Richie….”the alternative”?…is blatantly obvious, Ireland to be economically run by the Irish for the Irish. Europe never materialised and ended the way we had been warned back in the 70′s,………………
A DISASTER FOR THE IRISH PEOPLE!
European growth is 0.5%. Britain’s growth is 1.6% and predicted to be 2.8% next year. The Eurozone will have no economy bar ourselves and Germany that will even grow more than 1%.
London isn’t going to listen to people in the North who it views as another country and when the figures show an EU that is so gifted at killing growth and creating unemployment. 1 in 5 young Europeans is out of work.
Brian. The challenge in years to come will not be to keep Britain in but to keep France, Italy, Holland, Spain etc in the EU.
Britains growth is at 1.6% while inside the EU. Whole different ballgame if they’re outside looking in.
Less and less of Britain’s trade is with Europe every year. Germany and the rest of Europe are not going to put barriers to one of the only markets in Europe where there is growth and they sell a lot to.
If Britain leaves it will still maintain the trade terms because countries like France would go to the wall otherwise. Easy for London to dictate terms to a no growth economic zone.
From here on exports are going to be to outside of Europe, cause it will be many years before the EU returns to strong growth.
As is over half of Britain’s exports now go outside of the EU and that is growing rapidly while trade with the EU countries is dropping up to 7% a year in It’s already detached itself from the continent in trade.
Will Europe return to reasonable growth this side of 2020? Hard to see it happening. Busted flush.
Don’t read that Telegraph rag. That and the Daily Mail. They print lots of rubbish. The EU is very important to Britain. Just like Ireland our 5th biggest trading partner in the world.
You’re in a dark place when you’re quoting / linking the Telegraph.
Shtick with the real news from RTE. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you it’s all government propaganda – Remember we know what’s best for Ireland. There’s always “a good deal for Ireland” in the EU. Shure all you debt slave minions are paying the brunt of europe’s bank debt with out even blinking an eye. Good oul RTE, where would I be without it.
Britain is less reliant on the EU than it was even just 5 years ago. All its export growth for the next decade is going to come out of non-EU countries. That applies to Ireland and Germany as well. Countries that rely on growth from within the EU are in very serious trouble.
Trade agreements will still stand even if Britain leaves the EU as it is the only large country(bar Germany) in Europe that has strong growth and a prospect of strong growth. The EU can’t exactly turn down trade and hard cash at this stage. Britain isn’t going to go in to the Euro, why stay.
France and Italy will be the next 2 countries that will start to see a call for change and renegotiations
Here are the figures from the British Office of National Statistics then,
Impartial;y mind numbing blandness though.
An embarrassment of a man! A face that I’d enjoy slapping.
Kevin, quite right probably increase but economic growth is not the only factor for example sovereignity is a further factor
Northern ireland: brian hayes must stop making his voice heard.
Hayes the weasel should shut up.
Hayes has a face I can’t help but wanna thump.
Get in line lukey…tis a big one
Read what it said at the bottom of the article then think of Switzerland
Add Norway and Iceland and, closer to home, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
This is Norway with North Sea Oil?
As for Iceland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands why not name check Skellig Micheal while you’re at it.
I think you’ll find that Skellig Michael is part of an EU member state.
The UK would likely just return to being in the EFTA which was pretty much set up for them in the first place. I think a lot of them correctly see the EU as a bureaucratic mess that went too far. The euro for instance was more politically designed than economically. I don’t see that many drawbacks for the British.. Free trade with Europe minus the imposed regulations and laws. Switzerland has a pretty good deal going on with the bilateral agreements. I can’t see the UK giving up the control aspect though – having no say in the EU.
Being out of EU and in EFTA pretty much means that you accept the rules without having any input.
Maybe they are ok with that, if it saves them some money.
Not strictly. You can be in the EFTA and not the European single market EEA. Like the Swiss for instance. The Swiss only have to adopt EU law within the parameters of their bilateral agreements with the EU. Not like Norway for instance which automatically adopts most EU law without a say in what those laws should be.
I just don’t think this exiting the EU is half as catastrophic as made out. We would still have the Common Travel Area with the UK and most likely free trade. And cooperation in justice and extradition.
Plus Duty Free.
Why is Hayes sticking his nose in the UKs business. Does he really think that anyone over there cares what he says, knows who he is. A man who has hardly if any respect in his own country.
Talk about self delusion
The real question here is how will the daily express cope if they vote to stay in the EU?What brave crusade will St George have left??
Hard to see them voting to stay in. The referendum will be in 2017, by that stage Britain’s trade with Europe will have shrunk , it will have had 4 years of growth and below 7% unemployment compared to the EU and its perma slump and high unemployment and falling wages.
No one believes that EU wide unemployment will drop below 10% in 4-5 years time and the endemic problem of youth unemployment to be solved. No one expects the Euro crisis to be resolved by that stage and no one expects the continent to have a strong recovery for many years to come.
I dread to think what Spain, France, Belgium and Italy will be like in 2017.
The longer the EU lasts the bigger the crash when it finally fails. Will Greece,Italy Spain and Portugal still be in it in 12 months time? Imagine what it will be like when the Commissars have only poor little Ireland to kick around.
There wont be a referendum because the Tory party have little chance of being re-elected.
If the election was today the Labour party would win around 100 more seats than the tories.
Pressure to hold it might become unbearable. The Eurozone is looking at declining populations and massive debt burdens and low growth. The pressure to cast off from that sinking ship will be difficult for even Labour to resist.
Carling, probably complete basket cases in that 2 tier EU structure that was thrown around a few months ago
Our status within the EU is debatable,Regardless of how we view ourselves.What is crucial and seems to be ignored by all and sundry is that any change to our status will be driven by our Government.That is the government that has consistently rolled over to EU demands since the day we became members.Apart from the structural funding,very little has come from the EU membership that has had any prolonged effect on our country as a whole.We don’t have a voice in Europe….It is just an illusion.We lack any punch politically and we are stuck with cowards in government anyway.What will be, will be and that is our lot.I am not being pessimistic ,I am being realistic.We need real change at government level and that is not going to happen anytime soon.
The politians up north will just laugh at his comment knowingly they are better economically then down south
“knowingly they are better economically then down south”
Have you ever been there!?
Most of the North is 15 years behind the rest of the country.
It will be best if the UK leaves the EU. Sick of their moaning.
Without the bayonet they won’t be trading on favourable terms outside the EU as their jingoistic media like to claim.
Let them leave and come back in when and leave the ultra-nationalism, the state religion and the monarchy at the door this time.
Let the unionists in the North go blindly with the British establishment, when their economy suffers, the Republic may be able to prosper and make inroads into there.
I only wish that referendum was sooner!
Every time I see Hayes face my blood boils he is hatefull little rat
Your a hard line FF’er you aren’t that pleasant or nice yourself.
Well Mr black not your real name obviously, you’r entitled to you opinion as I am I’d think more of your reply if you showed your face.
And we, or the people of Northern Ireland, should be interested in what this bubble on a pisspot has to say, why?
Suppose if the uk leave the eu..we will be flooded with there migrant workers
So FG send Brian Hayes to convince a Unionist Party to protect Irish affairs.
Haven’t seen him since he won that big brother show – 2nd series i think
Exactly it’s nothing to do with this country. It’s a British decision for British people
Britain out of the EU, road blockages and closures, border controls reintroduced, field day for smugglers, re emergence of the IRA, re deployment of the British, Army and the Irish Army for that matter, just like the good old days. It may suit some but I know I’m not looking forward to it.
James, the border was always pretty open between Ireand and the UK whether at airports, roads or ports.
James. Are you ok?. That is some wild rubbish you are coming out with.
Steve, I’ve lived within 20 miles of the border all my life and and for most of those years the border has been anything but open. Crossing the border was a bit of an ordeal and the inevitable imposition of border controls following Britains exit from the EU would, I believe bring us back to those bad old days.
Fine ate you telling me that it was a closed borfder in the 1950s 60s and prior.
Further the British Army were not involved in “border controls” they didn’t care about smuggling fuel, fags ( in fact they would have been customers) or passports nationality and there were a lot of open border crossings.
James.
Your comments and future scenario make me doubt that you have ever been to Ireland never mind live here.
I can see it now, Britain votes to leave EU. PM says, hold on lads, we cant leave cos it aint in Irelands best interest, British people say OK then we’ll stay to help the Irish.
Dream on, just like the British believing they’ll get a vote on it.
have your say