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Two Irish MEPs, who will finally be able to take their seats in Brussels when the UK leaves the EU, have sought to reassure people in Northern Ireland they will work to ensure their interests are still represented.<\/p>\nTwo Irish MEPs, who will finally be able to take their seats in Brussels when the UK leaves the EU, have sought to reassure people in Northern Ireland they will work to ensure their interests are still represented.<\/p>\n
Deirdre Clune, a Fine Gael MEP for the Ireland South constituency, and Barry Andrews, for Fianna F\u00e1il in Dublin, were elected last year, but could not take their places in the European Parliament due to the Brexit impasse.<\/p>\n
The pair were elected to two extra seats allocated to Ireland as a result of the departure of the UK\u2019s MEPs.<\/p>\n
While Northern Ireland has lost its three MEPs, both Mr Andrews and Ms Clune pledged that it will not be left without representation.<\/p>\n
Ms Clune, who had previously been a sitting MEP, told the PA news agency: \u201cWhilst they don\u2019t have a directly-elected representative from Northern Ireland, we\u2019ll certainly be mindful of the fact that we need to keep the all-Ireland economy going, keep it strong because there\u2019s so much interplay between both sides of the island.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s in the interests of the people in the south that the economy (in Northern Ireland) continues to prosper there because it\u2019s so interconnected.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Andrews said he had argued for observer status for Northern Ireland MEPs during the transition period, but that idea appeared to have \u201cfallen on deaf ears\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said failing that he is looking into taking a few days a year in Northern Ireland to speak to representative groups there about issues concerning them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not optimum, it\u2019s nowhere near what it should be, but it might be something and it might be some consolation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
As the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly to back Boris Johnson\u2019s Brexit deal on Wednesday, MEPs linked hands to sing a final chorus of Auld Lang Syne.<\/p>\n
Ms Clune, who plans to travel to Brussels next week, said while she is \u201canxious to get back\u201d, it had been an emotional time this week seeing the British and Northern Ireland MEPs say goodbye to the EU.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to getting back to work myself and becoming involved again but overall I\u2019m not too happy that the UK won\u2019t be there and that those members will be gone,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a pretty emotional day really seeing the images on television and reading about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Andrews said while he will be relieved to start work, his first-time win was \u201cmuted\u201d, given the circumstances.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIt\u2019s mixed emotions because nobody in Ireland thinks its a good idea to have Brexit but I\u2019ll just get on with it. I won\u2019t be celebrating, it will be kind of muted.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cI\u2019ve been anxious to get started. I suppose there is probably a need for additional representation as the British departure puts Ireland under pressure in terms of influence in the EU so there\u2019s plenty of work to be done and I\u2019m looking forward to getting started.\u201d<\/p>\n