Speaking at the Sinn Fein’s Party away day in Dundalk, Co Louth, president Mary Lou McDonald lasted Boris Johnson saying he is following a “Brexit fantasy.”
She said the “British prime minister, Boris Johnson follows a fantasy in which the rights and interests of the Irish people can be cast aside.
“It is time to call Mr Johnson’s fantasy for what it is, profoundly stupid and immeasurably dangerous.
“Mr Johnson’s stupid, dangerous fantasy cannot become Ireland’s nightmare, because Brexit is a very English problem and the consequences of it cannot be shifted on to Ireland.”
The Sinn Fein president added that Ireland are facing “its greatest threat and challenge in a generation”.
“As 31 October approaches, neither an Taoiseach [Leo Varadkar] or Michel Barnier [EU chief Brexit negotiator] can blink in the face of Tory intransigence, because too much is at stake.”
McDonald added, “Despite Mr Johnson’s claims to the contrary, the path he is leading would lead us to a hard border. The British prime minister needs to hear this.
“The Irish people will not allow our country, our communities, our economy or our peace to be vandalised by him.
“There 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’s future.”
Arlene Foster the DUP leader and Johnson are working on a deal that will see Northern Ireland leave the EU with the rest of Europe.
But, the Sinn Fein leader said, “no viable alternative exists to the backstop.”
“It is not perfect by any means but it’s the least worst option and broad Irish opinion supports that.
“This isn’t about us stamping our feet, this is a compromise solution, a minimum insurance policy.
“I believe that despite DUP rhetoric to the contrary, broad Irish opinion north and south understands that and supports that.
“If the DUP were representing northern citizens and society well, they would recognise that. They are very much adrift from the consensus position in the north and the south.”
She added, “No true Irish republican would ever take a seat in the British Parliament, much less swear an oath to the British crown.”
Leave a Comment