Taoiseach tells Brexiteers: Respect our vote
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told hard-line Brexiteers who has called for the Good Friday agreement to be scrapped to "respect our vote" in the same way Ireland respects Britain's democratic decision to leave the EU, .
In recent days, a number of hard-line pro-Brexit MPs have suggested in the British media that the historic 1998 Good Friday agreement should be cancelled due to the difficulties it is causing a hard Brexit.
The 20-year-old agreement is known globally for bringing an official end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland after a series of cease-fires in the preceding five years, and for allowing a new era of democratic self-governance in the province.
As such, any suggestion it should be scrapped has caused uproar on both sides of the Irish border, with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Britain's Northern Ireland secretary Karen Bradley both recently voicing their complete support for the agreement's continuation.
Speaking to reporters before an informal European Council meeting in Brussels, Belgium, today, Mr Varadkar said he is aware of the recent hard-line claims surrounding the Good Friday agreement.
Hitting out at those calling for it to be scrapped, he said if Brexiteers are so adamant people should respect the democratic 52-48% decision by British voters to leave the EU, then they should also respect the 94% Republic vote and 71% Northern Ireland vote in favour of the Good Friday agreement.
"I'm very much re-assured by what prime minister May has said and what Northern Ireland secretary Karen Bradley has said and they've said that they stand by the Good Friday agreement and that their support for it is steadfast.
"When I want to know what the UK government thinks, even when there are a lot of mixed messages, I listen to the prime minister, and when I want to know what the UK government thinks about Northern Ireland I listen to the secretary of state for Northern Ireland.
"I'm very happy with what was said in their comments, that they're steadfast in their support of the Good Friday agreement.
"I know some of the more radical Brexiteers who are not members of the British government have questioned the Good Friday agreement in recent months and I suppose I would say to them what they always say to us: they should respect our vote.
"The UK voted 52-48% to leave the EU, and we do respect that vote. I would say to anyone who questions the Good Friday agreement, respect our vote - 94% for the Good Friday agreement in Ireland and 71% in Northern Ireland," Mr Varadkar said.
