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Call for Taoiseach to lobby for special EU status for north

Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams, Michelle O'Neill and Mary Lou McDonald speak to the media at the Glasshouse at Stormont Castle yesterday. Picture by Mal McCann
Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams, Michelle O'Neill and Mary Lou McDonald speak to the media at the Glasshouse at Stormont Castle yesterday. Picture by Mal McCann Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams, Michelle O'Neill and Mary Lou McDonald speak to the media at the Glasshouse at Stormont Castle yesterday. Picture by Mal McCann

THERESA May's announcement that Article 50 will be triggered next week prompted calls for the Irish government to help lobby for special status for Northern Ireland within the EU.

Mrs May is scheduled to visit the north later this week and meet the north's main parties but with agreement in talks aimed at restoring devolution still appearing some way off, she is expected to receive mixed messages.

While the UK as a whole voted to leave the EU in last June's referendum, 56 per cent of people in the north voted to remain.

Sinn Féin's northern leader Michelle O'Neill claimed Mrs May was acting against the interests and expressed wishes of the "cross-community group" of people who wished to stay part of the EU.

"We will be making that message clear to Theresa May when she is here... that this is not good, this is bad news for the people of Ireland," she said.

The party's president Gerry Adams called on Taoiseach Enda Kenny to work to secure special designated status for the north.

"The taoiseach has previously expressed impatience over the lack of clarity from Britain on Brexit," said Mr Adams.

"He now knows the date on which Article 50 will be triggered. The clock is ticking, so he needs to act accordingly and stand up for our national interests across the island, at European level, to secure special designated status for the north within the EU."

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said Stormont's parties needed to adopt a united voice on Brexit.

"The British government’s Article 50 solo run must be met with strength from the devolved administrations," he said.

"In the north that means that all parties must come together to adopt a common position on Brexit that defends the interests of people here."

Ulster Unionist MP Danny Kinahan it was a "sad indictment" of the last Stormont executive that there was a "total absence of collective action".

He said the final Brexit deal would have lasting consequences for the region's universities, businesess, agrifood and the community and voluntary sector.

"We must see a successful resolution to the issue of the border, so our people and goods can still flow freely across it," Mr Kinahan said.

"The government must deliver the best deal for the Northern Ireland and the whole of the United Kingdom, and build new partnerships with our neighbours and the rest of the world."

But Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry said triggering of Article 50 was "tantamount to the UK walking over a cliff-edge".

"The need for a coherent and sustainable executive to be put in place has become even more pressing," he said.

"Northern Ireland needs a strong governmental voice to stand up and advocate for the interests of this region – the provision of a proper plan for Brexit needs to be a core component of any coalition agreement emerging from the current talks."

There was no statement issued last night by the DUP.