Taoiseach’s all-island Brexit initiative welcomed by SDLP leader Colum Eastwood

A plan by Taoiseach Enda Kenny to convene an all-island conversation on Brexit later this year, has been welcomed by SDLP leader Colum Eastwood.

The Foyle MLA (pictured) said defending the interests of people on the island, North and South, required cross party and cross community co-operation.

He said: “The SDLP welcomes the Taoiseach’s all-island initiative on Brexit.

“The day after the referendum, Mark Durkan MP first proposed an All-Party Forum to consider the wide ranging implications of Brexit on the people of Ireland.

“The disastrous approach of the British Government to this challenge makes that proposal all the more critical in order to establish coherence and consensus on an all-island response.

“Theresa May’s government risks sinking an axe of simplicity into the layered complexities of the Irish political process. We are now desperately in need of an Irish solution to a European problem.

“All parties across this island should engage with the Taoiseach’s initiative in November.

“The people of Ireland endorsed a European context to our peace process in 1998.”

Mr Eastwood conclded: The people of Northern Ireland voted to defend our place in Europe in June. We must all now defend the democratically stated will of people here.”