Varadkar to address FG Brexit meeting in Mullingar

 

The Minister for Social Protection, Leo Varadkar, will address a public meeting on Brexit for the midlands tomorrow night (Thursday) in Mullingar.

The meeting is part of a series of meetings being organised by the Fine Gael Brexit Response Group, which was established in autumn 2016.

Minister Varadkar is just one of a number of guest speakers at the Mullingar meeting.

Others include: Fine Gael representatives for Longford Westmeath, Peter Burke TD, and Senator Gabrielle McFadden; Joe Healy, Irish Farmers Association; Patricia Callan, Small Firms Association; Arnold Dillion, IBEC; and Brian Keegan, Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Minister Varadkar said: “Four times in our history, Britain and Ireland have taken a different course: when we became independent in 1921, in 1948 when we declared a Republic and left the Commonwealth, in 1979 when we floated the punt, and in 2002 when we joined the euro without Britain.

“On each occasion there were difficulties but we worked through them and came out stronger and more prosperous on the other side.

“Brexit presents serious challenges but it is also an opportunity to take the next stage in our development as a nation state.”

Deputy Peter Burke added: “Meetings like this are really important, as while everyone is aware of Brexit, many people are not fully engaged with the developments and how it will affect their lives.

“The messages we seem to be getting in the media are often both complicated and contrasting.

“Every person in this state will feel the effects of Brexit, and of course there also will be opportunities to seize.

“This meeting aims not only to inform people of developments, but to let organisations and key stakeholders know what our priorities are here in the midlands, in order to inform Ireland’s negotiations and policy planning.

“Anyone who cannot attend but who wishes to receive information about the meeting should email midlandsbrexit@gmail.com.”

Senator Gabrielle McFadden referred to the UK’s relationship with the EU: “When a relationship breaks down it can end in an ‘Amicable Arrangement’ or a ‘Messy Divorce’.

“I believe that during the negotiations, we must do all that we can to argue for the former as this approach will deliver the best result for Ireland, even if that is not popular with some of the other players in Europe.

“I am keen to hear the opinions of the people of the midlands on this and I urge them to attend the meeting in the Mullingar Park and make their own views known.”