SINN Fein MLA Martin McGuinness has said all section of society here benefit from membership of the European Union.
He also called on Secretary of State Theresa Villiers to resign her position after she declared she would be supporting the Brexit camp in June’s referendum.
Mr McGuinness said: “It is clear that a majority of people in the North place great value on our membership of the European Union and want it to continue.
“It’s odd that Theresa Villiers should now be advocating withdrawing from the EU when its benefits for the North are quite obvious.
“It’s not surprising however given the fact that she is not elected by and does not represent the people of the North that she should be so cut off from public opinion.
“Recently the business community in the north have stated publicly that we are better off in the EU in terms of trade and access to wider markets.
“I have travelled internationally alongside Peter Robinson and Arlene Foster, attracting investment and jobs based on our location as a gateway to Europe.
“All sections of our society have benefitted from our EU membership and in the coming weeks and months Sinn Fein will campaign to stay in,” added the Deputy First Minister.
Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the Alliance Party have all stated they will be backing the ‘Stay In’ Europe camp.
The DUP has nailed its colours to the mast and will be supporting the ‘Brexit’ campaign.
The dithering Ulster Unionist Party have still to make up its mind.
It is expected the UUP will support the ‘Stay In’ camp despite former party leader Lord Trimble telling French TV yesterday that he is backing ‘Brexit’.
