{"id":10004,"date":"2019-10-03T12:55:09","date_gmt":"2019-10-03T16:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=10004"},"modified":"2019-10-03T12:55:09","modified_gmt":"2019-10-03T16:55:09","slug":"dup-criticizes-irish-governments-rejection-of-brexit-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=10004","title":{"rendered":"DUP Criticizes Irish Government’s Rejection of Brexit Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The DUP leader has accused the Irish Government of trying to ride roughshod over unionism, as she criticized the rejection of the UK\u2019s latest Brexit plan.<\/p>\n

Arlene Foster\u2019s comments came after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and T\u00e1naiste Simon Coveney both voiced opposition to the proposals.<\/p>\n

Both men expressed concern at the suggestion of letting Stormont decide whether to opt in to the proposed all-island regulatory zone post-Brexit.<\/p>\n

Stormont voting mechanisms allow a bloc of either unionist or nationalist Assembly members to block a decision, even if the majority vote for it.<\/p>\n

Ms Foster said the proposals would ensure that Northern Ireland could not be \u201ctrapped at the whim of Dublin or the EU.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was particularly critical of Mr Coveney, accusing him of rejecting a reasonable offer and paving the road for a no-deal exit.<\/p>\n

\u201cSimon Coveney\u2019s remarks are deeply unhelpful, obstructionist and intransigent,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Irish Government\u2019s majoritarian desire to ride roughshod over unionism was one of the reasons why the Withdrawal Agreement was rejected.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr Coveney\u2019s rejection of a reasonable offer is paving the road for a no-deal exit because unionism will not allow Northern Ireland to be trapped at the whim of Dublin or the EU. We will not buy that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms Foster added: \u201cThe Irish Government\u2019s preparedness to dump the consent principle for their country\u2019s expediency is foolish in the extreme and sends a very clear message to unionists.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom our 2017 manifesto to paragraph 50 of the December 2017 Joint Report, the consent of the people of Northern Ireland for specific solutions has been key.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is at the heart of the Belfast and St Andrews Agreements, yet the Irish foreign minister is now railing against it because it doesn\u2019t suit his agenda.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere will be no return to the flawed backstop. We will leave the EU, Customs Union and single market alongside the rest of the United Kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>