UK Election result makes Brexit negotiations much more difficult – Hayes

Sinn Fein should take its seats in Westminster

Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes, this morning reacting to the UK election results said that the task of successfully concluding the upcoming Brexit negotiations has now been made much more difficult. Theresa May’s position and that of her negotiating team in Brussels will make it more difficult to conclude a good outcome for the EU and Ireland within the existing timeline.

“If Sinn Fein is concerned about the impact of Brexit on Ireland – North and South, it should abandon its policy of abstention and take its seats in the House of Commons.”

“MPs from the SNP in Scotland and Plaid Cymru in Wales will be in Westminster defending the interests of the people who elected them. Sinn Fein should now do the same. It should stop standing on the sidelines and get on the pitch. We need Irish voices where it matters.”

The outcome of the UK election means that the House of Commons will now be centre stage in the Brexit negotiations. The future direction of the negotiations on the UK side will be controlled by Parliament. Every vote matters. If Sinn Fein are really serious about defending Irish interests they must take their seats” concluded MEP Hayes.