McGuinness to brief European Union leaders on impact of Brexit

Foyle Sinn Fein MLA Martin McGuinness is to travel to the European Parliament to meet EU leaders to discuss the impact of the EU referendum.

Among those Mr McGuinness will meet will be Guy Verhofstadt, head of the European Parliament's negotiating team; Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan; Danuta Hubner, head of the Parliament's constitutional affairs committee, as well as the leaders of the main political groupings in the Parliament and other senior MEPs.

Mr McGuinness said he would be discussing the impact of Brexit on Ireland and the need for the remain vote of the majority of the people of the North to be respected.

He said: "The outcome of the recent EU referendum will have a hugely negative impact on the island of Ireland.

"Just this weekend we saw thousands of people take part in protests organised by campaign group Border Communities Against Brexit, highlighting the depth of feeling on the issue.

Mr McGuinness, who will be accompanied by Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson, will also meet Irish MEPs and the Irish Ambassador to Belgium to press them on the responsibility of the Irish government to represent the best interests of Irish citizens living in the North . He concluded: "It is important we continue to build international support to ensure the Remain vote of the majority of the people of the North of Ireland is respected."