SAMMY Wilson will press the British and Irish governments to ensure the free flow of goods and people across the Irish border continues in the event of a Brexit.
The DUP MP was speaking as the regional arm of Vote Leave launched its campaign yesterday.
Backed by members of the DUP, UKIP and TUV, chairman of the campaign in the north is William Wright, founder of Ballymena busmaker Wrightbus.
The group's rationale for breaking ties with Brussels is based on the assertion that the £350m-plus Britain pays towards the EU every week could be spent on "our priorities – like health, schools and housing".
Vote Leave also wants to stop EU laws taking precedence over UK law and ruling on "big decisions like whether prisoners are allowed to vote". Curbing "out of control immigration" and creating the circumstances where Britain is "free to trade with the whole world" are other central planks of its campaign.
Mr Wright said the recent "immigration crisis" had convinced him that leaving the EU was the best option for the UK. He also claimed that a clampdown by Brussels on cigarette packaging had cost Ballymena 1,000 jobs at the JTI Gallahers factory.
"We must look to the world and not tie ourselves into the European Union where I believe costs have grown and benefits have fallen," he said.
"I urge everyone in Northern Ireland to be diligent, to give this debate serious consideration and ultimately to Vote Leave."
Meanwhile, Mr Wilson addressed ongoing concern about the potential 'hardening' of the Irish border in the event of a Brexit. Leading figures on both sides of the debate, including Vote Leave chairman Nigel Lawson, have said they expect controls to be put in place along what would be the UK's only land border with the EU.
However, Secretary of State Theresa Villiers has insisted that the long-standing Common Travel Area (CTA) between the Republic and the UK would mean movement between the two parts of the island – and between Ireland and Britain – would not be restricted.
"I don't think there needs to be a hard border," Mr Wilson told The Irish News.
"Indeed, both the Irish and British governments are committed to maintain the Common Travel Area."
Mr Wilson said he would press the British and Irish governments to ensure free movement across the border was maintained.
"It make sense in terms of the free movement of people and it makes sense in terms of the trade that we have between the Republic of Ireland and the UK," he said.
"There are mechanisms in place which enable it to work without causing any difficulties for the UK, so why would we wish to change that?"
