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TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY says he believes the British prime minister will begin the process of Brexit at the end of January by invoking article 50.
Speaking today at Government Buildings, Enda Kenny said there were already informal negotiations about Brexit between London and the remaining EU countries.
“I expect that the British prime minister will move the Article 50, probably – probably – in January or February, the end of January or February,” he said.
Those are the indications I got from my discussions with Secretary of State [David] Davis and James Brokenshire, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
“I do think the UK personnel are going to have to delve down deeply into all the issues that are going to emerge.”
He added: “It is right and proper that a new prime minister has time to consider all the issues before moving on it, but that doesn’t drag on too long. But the law is quite clear here – it is strictly a matter for the British prime minister to move on Article 50.
“The impression I get, is some time at the end of January or in February, and that has been referred to me by members of the British government themselves.”
The UK link
He added: “It’s absolutely necessary that we explain to people just what our position is in maintaining the link with the UK, but also speaking as a member of the European Union.
“There are a myriad of complications and issues to deal with.
“It is important to keep strong connection and communication with the public servants in Great Britain who are going to be doing the detail of this, but also in regard with what it is Europe intends to do.
Finance Minister Michael Noonan, who left hospital after a week recuperating from cellulitis, is due to travel to London tomorrow to meet British chancellor Philip Hammond, he added.
The Taoiseach said he had received assurances from Minister Noonan that his doctors had said he was fit to continue working in the State’s second most powerful political position.
“In respect of Michael Noonan, yesterday he rang me and informed me of the operation he was having on his face, the way they are dealing with that is to load him with antibiotics and have those intravenously, because of the extent of what’s required.
Any time he has had any problem, he has assured me of his fitness, and doctors have confirmed he is ready to go back to work.
“And he’s told me that if that wasn’t the position, he would inform me, and I trust him completely.”
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If true it’s seem Enda won’t be there to see it happen, which will be nice!
@Les Behan: Would not count on Enda not being there he is a crafty one and only likes to play the fool. He is as sneaky as they come just ask poor old Joanie.
When do the Irish get a vote or do our politicians not trust us to give us a vote on anything that matters?
Regardless of what Enda thinks it’s Goodbye, so long, Adieu to the most recalcitrant member of the EU
Why can’t our political representatives set out our position on Brexit …..what are our ‘red lines’ ?
The train is coming
This country has a veto and needs to use it if our national interests are significantly affected
We could be affected more than almost anyone else from a ‘National Question’ and trade and indeed travel perspective
Brexit is probably the biggest single matter to affect us since joining the EU itself yet our politicians and indeed our journalists are looking at it as if the country is a somewhat interested bystander….sitting on our hands and hoping it will work out ok.
We have serious skin in this game and need to wise up and get in there setting out exactly what we want
The conversation needs to start and the media and political classes need to engage the public – otherwise we will be backed in to an unsuitable corner by parties whose interests are not ours.
Depends what you think the “national interest” is. You might think it would be the UK staying in the single market and openly trading, but i’m not so sure. In that scenario, multinationals might choose the UK instead of Ireland because they can trade freely across Europe but be outside the jurisdiction of the EU commission (eg Apple might move there).
No, what i think is in Irelands interests is if it becomes clear that Ireland is the only English speaking country with full access to the EU market. It might be tough for our farmers initially if its tougher to export to the UK, but overall we would be better off with time.
It would make no sense for Ireland (or any other member state) to try to force the UK to stay in the EU. It’s a voluntary union.
I bet people hearing Kenny make this statement leads them to believe he actually has a strategy and plan in place for dealing with this potentially existential crisis for Ireland. Oh no, I’m afraid not. That’s not how we do things in Ireland.
What exactly would we use a veto for?
Enda can predict what the UK government does, but doesn’t have a clue closer to home.
Can he predict the winner of the 3.45 at Goodwood today
@Chris Kirk: If you need the winner at the 3.45………ring Bertie.
No 4 Sky hunter. You heard it here folks
@Stephen Kilbane:
Flying Shite – Won`t be licked
Hate to say I told you so
He also said, “We in fg are totally united on the issue of water charges”. In other news, Irish water has been found guilty of failing to improve water quality in Galway
Like everything enda says, I’ll be taking this with a large pinch of salt.
Or March, or April… of some year…
@Fiona Fitzgerald: Maybe May
Enda Kenny predicts.. Lol.. Ok
A few months ago Enda was campaigning around Britain proclaiming a Doomsday Scenario ‘The end is nigh’ if Britain exited the EU.
Honestly, only a fool or a Fine Tory die hard would take anything this man says seriously anymore.
@Sam Palmer: They haven’t left the EU yet. Perhaps the end will be nigh. For Britain.
This may actually be one that Kenny calls correctly. May wants to try hold off for a while, but she has the problem of her back bench pushing hard for 50 to be activated ASAP. Even some of her Ministers want it.
A stopped clock is right twice a day…
They are afraid of their lives to invoke and shocked that rest of Europe are saying invoke it before any negotiations. Their hand weaker than their Empire mentality realised.
lol…Brexit Britain running around with a gun pointed at their own foot, shouting “we’re going to shoot, don’t think we won’t! We’ll probably do it in January, might take us a few years to bleed out”.
Rest of Europe looks on in bemusement. The Brits really are embarrassing themselves.
Loading him with antibiotics is an unhelpful reference when we as a nation overuse abuse antibiotics
Before or after the Endaexet
have your say