EASTWOOD WELCOMES EU COMMISSION PAPER ON THE IRISH QUESTION

The Foyle MLA said: “The publication of the European Commission’s paper on the Irish question is yet another important milestone in the Brexit process.

“It is a significant achievement that the work of the SDLP, the Irish Government and many others across this island has convinced the EU commission that the island of Ireland and the island of Britain require different deals and different solutions.

“The European Union’s official position now acknowledges that the island of Ireland needs a special deal which will protect this island’s position and our people – we need an Irish solution to the Brexit problem.

“Today’s publication also brings more focus to the insanity of having no local institutions in Northern while the ongoing Brexit process threatens all of our futures.

“Brexit is the defining challenge of this generation – failing to use our institutions to fight a hard Brexit in Ireland will be an historic abdication of political responsibility.

“Michel Barnier has today outlined the principles which point the path to the only sensible, credible and workable position for the island of Ireland.  Those fundamental principles must mean that all the structures and spirit of the Good Friday Agreement are protected and the freedoms currently enjoyed by people and business across our island remain uninterrupted.

“This is our choice for the future of this island – even if the British Government continues its dogmatic pursuit of a hard Brexit on the island of Britain.

“It speaks volumes that the European Union has recognised that the island of Ireland needs a solution to the Brexit problem whilst the British Government continues to ignore our needs.

“The British Government’s position paper on the Irish border question was the biggest piece of fictional writing by a sovereign government in many a long year – it is a very welcome entry back into reality that Michel Barnier has today so comprehensively blown that fiction apart.”