Ireland, Britain & Europe

Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, Charlie Flanagan, spoke recently at the European Council for Foreign Relations (ECFR) in London. During his speech, he explained the reasons why Ireland wants Britain to remain a member of the European Union. Here's how we view this issue.

Ireland has a unique relationship with the UK. Things have not always been easy between us, but the past two decades have witnessed a sea change and a genuinely friendly, cooperative spirit now prevails between Ireland and the UK.

Politically, ties between our two countries have probably never been better. Allow me to offer three illustrations of the friendship and partnership that now exists.

First, there was the historic State Visit by President Higgins in April, the first ever by an Irish Head of State. That wonderful visit demonstrated that we can now enjoy normal neighbourly ties across the Irish Sea.

A second illustration was the recent signing of an agreement on a joint British-Irish Visa Scheme which will allow visitors from China and India to visit both our countries with a single visa. This means that our two countries have sufficiently close ties to enable us to act jointly in such a sensitive field.

The third example relates to Irish participation in First World War commemorations, culminating on Remembrance Sunday with wreaths being laid by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny in Enniskillen, by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan in Belfast and myself at the Cenotaph in London. The latter was the first Irish presence there since 1946.

Our economic ties are also very close. Trade between us amounts to more than €1 billion each week! Britain is the most important export market for Irish owned firms, while Ireland is the fourth most important market for British exporters. Illustrating the interdependence of our two economies is the fact that there are more than 2,000 flights each week between Ireland and Britain. Indeed the Dublin-London route is the world's second busiest international air route.

All of this implies that no other EU country would be more affected by a UK disengagement from the EU. The impact of such a move on Ireland would, in our estimation, be immediate, direct and potentially serious.

We hope that the UK will stay in the EU for broadly three sets of reasons. First, we consider that the UK has contributed positively to the Union's evolution during the four decades of our membership. We would like to see that positive role continue in the future.

Second, our shared membership of the European Union has led to significant improvements in Irish-British relations. Around the EU negotiating table, we have discovered that how much we have in common and this has built confidence between our two countries, enabling us, for example, to work closely together during the past 20 years in developing a successful peace process in Northern Ireland.

Third, a British exit from the EU would have potential consequences for Northern Ireland. As Minister Flanagan said in his ECFR speech: 'The EU has been a force for peace and reconciliation, and has provided a framework for cooperation between unionist and nationalist, and between North and South.' A British exit would give rise to unwelcome uncertainties in Northern Ireland and with regard to cross-border connections.

Ireland will do what it can to facilitate continued British membership of the EU. As Minister Flanagan said in his ECFR speech: 'there is much about the UK’s positive agenda for Europe that we actively support.' We can be supportive of many of the desired reforms aimed at completing the single market and making the European economy more globally competitive.

Ireland, however, intends remaining in the European Union and would not want to change the Union in ways that would weaken its capacity to serve Europe's needs into the future.

We do not think, however, that a lengthy process of constitutional reflection and potential Treaty change would make any sense for Europe at present. What Europe now needs to do is to concentrate on economic reform and recovery so that our countries can start to move forward again after the reversals of the past six years.

We will continue to follow the British debate on Europe carefully and sympathetically. Ireland intends staying at the heart of the EU and we earnestly hope that our nearest neighbour will remain there with us.

Daniel Mulhall is Ireland's Ambassador in London