Opinion

Brian Feeney: Xenophobic stance of the British government must be opposed

British prime minister Theresa May. Picture by Henry Nicholls/PA Wire
British prime minister Theresa May. Picture by Henry Nicholls/PA Wire British prime minister Theresa May. Picture by Henry Nicholls/PA Wire

A year ago I was one of over 200 people who signed a letter from civic nationalism to the Taoiseach appealing to him as head of the Irish government to defend the rights of northern nationalists who, as Irish citizens, will remain EU citizens after Brexit.

There was growing concern at the starkly xenophobic stance the British government was adopting in Phase I of negotiations with the EU. Phase I was to deal with three elements: protecting the rights of EU citizens in the UK, the unique position of the north, and the financial settlement – the ‘UK divorce bill’.

On December 8 a joint UK-EU report was agreed, including the crucial paragraph 52 which states: ‘The people of Northern Ireland who are Irish citizens will continue to enjoy rights as EU citizens, including where they reside in Northern Ireland. Both Parties therefore agree that the Withdrawal Agreement should respect and be without prejudice to the rights, opportunities and identity that come with European Union citizenship for such people and, in the next phase of negotiations, will examine arrangements required to give effect to the ongoing exercise of, and access to, their EU rights, opportunities and benefits.’

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The Taoiseach pronounced himself satisfied with the Joint Report and promised Irish citizens’ rights in the north, as EU citizens, would be protected and they would ‘never again be left behind’. Sadly none of that has happened. To the contrary. Within forty-eight hours the British ratted on what they had signed up to in the Joint Report. In the draft Withdrawal Treaty of March 2018, the phrase in paragraph 52, ‘where they reside in Northern Ireland’ had vanished. Furthermore, the undertaking to, ‘examine arrangements required to give effect to the ongoing exercise of, and access to, their EU rights etc.’ never happened.

Worse, in response to a question from Martina Anderson MEP, Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, wrote that people in the north will not have access to EU policies and programmes when Brexit happens.

It became increasingly clear that Irish, as EU citizens, in the north will cease to have access to rights EU citizens are entitled to in health, education, professional qualifications, representation in the European parliament, and perhaps most critical, human rights. The British government will no longer recognise the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and have already set aside the EU Fundamental Charter of Human Rights. Therefore there are no means for anyone in the north accessing or enforcing their rights as EU citizens.

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The growing alarm this plight has caused led me to join with 1,000 others from all over Ireland to sign another letter to the Taoiseach pointing out that our rights continue to be denied in many fundamental aspects. This is not only because of Brexit but by the despicable alignment of the British government with DUP policy to deny rights and equality to northern nationalists. The British prime minister in her speeches does not even acknowledge our existence.

The fact that five times as many people as this time last year readily signed the letter illustrates the deep dismay at this shocking state of affairs.

Read MoreAnalysis: Dublin can't ignore concerns of northern nationalists