Deputy Pearse Doherty has said Donegal is to take the brunt of what promises to be a Hard Brexit with Britain on the verge of leaving the EU.
The Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson said local students and businesses are just some of the groups which could be hardest hit.
He called on the Irish Government to stringently defend Ireland’s interests, both north and south, as part of Britain’s forthcoming EU withdrawal negotiations as the prospect of a hard Brexit now looks almost certain.
Deputy Doherty’s comments come following Theresa May’s Brexit speech in which it was confirmed that Britain will leave the single market once formal negotiations with the EU are completed.
“In her Brexit speech, Theresa May made it quite clear that Britain is heading towards a Hard Brexit once formal negotiations with the EU conclude.
“Of course, while this is a cause for concern for the island of Ireland as a whole, particularly given our close economic and social ties with our nearest neighbours, this announcement is particularly worrying for citizens in the north and for all those in Border areas such as here in Donegal where the effects of a Hard Brexit will be hardest felt.
“The prospect of the introduction of trade barriers between both the north and south now poses a very real threat to our economy and to employment on this island.
“Also, Britain’s withdrawal from the EU stands to cause considerable financial hardship to the many third level students and their families from the state who choose to study in the north or in Britain as now the possibility of them being levied with International rate student fees following Brexit is becoming even more real.
“This is why, ever since the Referendum result was first declared, Sinn Féin has repeatedly called on the vote of the citizens of the north to be respected and for a special designated status within the EU to be granted to the six counties following Britain’s withdrawal.
“Today’s announcement has underlined just how important it will be for the Irish Government to use its position as an EU Member state in these negotiations to ensure that the interests of all Irish citizens are defended and upheld.
“The Irish Government must now advance this case for a special designation for the north within the EU and it must garner the support of the other twenty six EU member states in order to guarantee the best possible deal for this island and its people once Britain finally leaves the European Union.”