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Sinn F\u00e9in president Mary Lou McDonald has said UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is following a Brexit \u201cfantasy\u201d, and that his plan is \u201cprofoundly stupid and immeasurably dangerous\u201d.<\/p>\nSinn F\u00e9in president Mary Lou McDonald has said UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is following a Brexit \u201cfantasy\u201d, and that his plan is \u201cprofoundly stupid and immeasurably dangerous\u201d.<\/p>\n
Speaking at her party\u2019s away day in Dundalk, Co Louth, Ms McDonald said: \u201cBritish Prime Minister Boris Johnson follows a fantasy in which the rights and interests of the Irish people can be cast aside.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is time to call Mr Johnson\u2019s fantasy for what it is \u2013 profoundly stupid and immeasurably dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cMr Johnson\u2019s stupid, dangerous fantasy cannot become Ireland\u2019s nightmare, because Brexit is a very English problem and the consequences of it cannot be shifted on to Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald also said Ireland faces \u201cits greatest threat and challenge in a generation\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs October 31 approaches, neither an Taoiseach (Leo Varadkar) or (EU chief Brexit negotiator) Michel Barnier can blink in the face of Tory intransigence, because too much is at stake,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald said Mr Johnson\u2019s Brexit plan would lead to a hard border on the island of Ireland.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cDespite Mr Johnson\u2019s claims to the contrary, the path he is leading would lead us to a hard border. The British Prime Minister needs to hear this.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Irish people will not allow our country, our communities, our economy or our peace to be vandalized by him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere can be no return to a hard border, customs checks, and no more division on this island to suit the needs of a British Government that has no interest in Ireland\u2019s future.\u201d<\/p>\n
DUP leader Arlene Foster has said her party was working with Mr Johnson to find a deal that sees Northern Ireland leave the EU with the rest of the UK.<\/p>\n
Ms Foster said a Northern Ireland-only backstop would mean one part of the UK would be left in the customs union and subject to the rules of the single market without any consent.<\/p>\n
But Ms McDonald said \u201cno viable alternative exists to the backstop\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not perfect by any means but it\u2019s the least worst option and broad Irish opinion supports that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t about us stamping our feet, this is a compromise solution, a minimum insurance policy.<\/p>\n
“I believe that despite DUP rhetoric to the contrary, broad Irish opinion north and south understands that and supports that.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the DUP were representing northern citizens and society well they would recognize that. They are very much adrift from the consensus position in the north and the south.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald added that preparations must now be made for a united Ireland and that her party will run on an abstentionist ticket.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo true Irish republican would ever take a seat in the British Parliament, much less swear an oath to the British crown,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n