By Sputnik
Original Post date: 22 January 2017
President of Sinn Fein Gerry Adams says pulling Northern Ireland out of the EU along with the rest of the UK will “destroy” the 1998 Good Friday Accords that were instrumental in ending violence in Ireland.
At a conference on a united Ireland in Dublin January 21, Adams said fundamental human rights enshrined in the 1998 deal to end violence could be undermined by dragging Northern Ireland along.
Legal advisers to Ireland’s Parliament disagree, according to British media, saying not a word in the agreement will be affected.
“The British prime minister repeated her intention to bring an end to the jurisdiction of the European court. Along with her commitment to remove Britain from the European convention on human rights, this stand threatens to undermine the fundamental human rights elements of the Good Friday Agreement.”
Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU by a margin of 56% to 44%, the Independent reports.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May made clearer her plans for the union’s departure from the UK earlier this week, saying the UK would leave the EU’s single market, its Customs Union and the European Court of Justice.
Adams, who played a key role in the negotiations leading up to the Good Friday Agreement and in bringing Sinn Fein into mainstream politics, said ending the partition between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland had taken on a new significance in light of the Brexit decision, and that Northern Ireland should be given a special designated status within the EU.
“The British prime minister repeated her intention to bring an end to the jurisdiction of the European court. Along with her commitment to remove Britain from the European convention on human rights, this stand threatens to undermine the fundamental human rights elements of the Good Friday Agreement.”
Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU by a margin of 56% to 44%, the Independent reports.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May made clearer her plans for the union’s departure from the UK earlier this week, saying the UK would leave the EU’s single market, its Customs Union and the European Court of Justice.
Adams, who played a key role in the negotiations leading up to the Good Friday Agreement and in bringing Sinn Fein into mainstream politics, said ending the partition between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland had taken on a new significance in light of the Brexit decision, and that Northern Ireland should be given a special designated status within the EU.
