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Brexit: Nigel Dodds says Enda Kenny comments are disrespectful | Brexit: Nigel Dodds says Enda Kenny comments are disrespectful |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The DUP's Nigel Dodds has said it is "disrespectful" for politicians from outside the UK to tell people how to vote in the forthcoming EU referendum. | The DUP's Nigel Dodds has said it is "disrespectful" for politicians from outside the UK to tell people how to vote in the forthcoming EU referendum. |
He was responding to comments made by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny on Monday. | He was responding to comments made by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny on Monday. |
Mr Kenny said that it would create "serious difficulties" for Northern Ireland if the UK was to leave the EU. | Mr Kenny said that it would create "serious difficulties" for Northern Ireland if the UK was to leave the EU. |
Mr Dodds said it was counterproductive to "lecture us as to what is best for Northern Ireland". | Mr Dodds said it was counterproductive to "lecture us as to what is best for Northern Ireland". |
He added: "I trust that Enda Kenny will keep this in mind when making future comments about the EU referendum." | He added: "I trust that Enda Kenny will keep this in mind when making future comments about the EU referendum." |
Meanwhile, First Minister and DUP leader, Arlene Foster, said Mr Kenny had a right to express an opinion on the UK's relationship with the European Union, but ultimately it was a decision for voters in a future referendum. | |
"It is for the people of the UK to decide what's the best way forward and, as you know, we don't take too kindly to people telling us what to do," she said. | |
"I'm saying to Enda, if you have an opinion, that's your right to have that opinion and if you want to express it, that's your right as well, but we here in Northern Ireland will make our own determination in relation to Europe." | |
The Irish government has made it consistently clear that it does not want to see Britain leave the EU. | The Irish government has made it consistently clear that it does not want to see Britain leave the EU. |
Its main concern is economic - the UK is Ireland's biggest trading partner and the two countries trade over 1bn euros (£760m) of goods and services every week. | Its main concern is economic - the UK is Ireland's biggest trading partner and the two countries trade over 1bn euros (£760m) of goods and services every week. |
Ireland's other concerns include the potential impacts on Northern Ireland and the wider British-Irish relationship. | Ireland's other concerns include the potential impacts on Northern Ireland and the wider British-Irish relationship. |
A referendum on UK membership of the EU must be held by the end of 2017, though it could be as early as June this year. | A referendum on UK membership of the EU must be held by the end of 2017, though it could be as early as June this year. |
At the weekend, Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said a UK exit from Europe would be "a leap into the unknown". | At the weekend, Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said a UK exit from Europe would be "a leap into the unknown". |