Senator Padraig Mac Lochlainn has said the North didn’t decide to leave the EU and that decision must be respected.
He made his comments during a contribution to a Seanad debate on the economic implications of Brexit.
The Sinn Féin Seanad Spokesperson on Jobs and the Economy said “the Irish Government is behind the curve in terms of where we need to be.”
Senator Mac Lochlainn said “There were measures introduced in the budget this week to address Brexit but they don’t go far enough.
“The Tory Government is at sixes and sevens on Brexit. The full repercussions of their right wing bravado and nationalistic pomp were played out this week in the volatile swings of the now highly politicised sterling currency.
“This is dangerous for businesses, dangerous for society and dangerous for the whole Island of Ireland.
“Our Government should not be just accepting the modus operandi of a Tory Brexit.
“The Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon announced today that her Government have published a bill for a second referendum on independence.
“I welcome that move and argue that our government should be planning a similar response in the form of a Unity Referendum here.
He concluded “Last week, on a visit to Ireland, respected economist, Professor Kurt Hubner put forward his study “Modelling Irish Unification” on the real and substantial economic benefits of an All-Ireland Economy for communities across this island. The work he co- authored estimated that the economic gains could be €36.5 billion euro over the first eight years.
“Irish Unity makes absolute economic sense. If anything, this Brexit mess has focused minds on this reality once again.”
