Write a commentNewry people have had the opportunity this week to visit two different events on the hot topic of Brexit at the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre.
Yesterday 4 October saw Newry, Mourne and Down District Council hold a free Brexit event with BrexitLawNI, a collaborative Economic and Social Research Council funded research project, between the Law Schools of Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University and human rights organisation, the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ).
During September 2018, BrexitLawNI published reports regarding the impact of Brexit in six key areas: the peace process, North-South relations, the border and free movement, racism and xenophobia, human rights and equality, and socio-economic rights. Speakers discussed the key findings of their research at the event and facilitated questions and discussion with the audience.
Council Chairman, Cllr Mark Murnin said, “I welcome the BrexitLawNI team to Newry to present their research findings and be part of a discussion on this important issue. Brexit is one of the most significant issues that we have to deal with and it is vital that we look closely at how it has and will continue to affect all our citizens.”
Today 5 October saw an ‘End the Chaos’ Event hosted by Gina Miller. Gina made headlines recently when she took the UK Government to court over invoking Article 50 and their agreement with the DUP.
Other panellists included Seamus Leheny, Policy Manager for the Freight Transport Association, Glyn Roberts the Chief Executive of Retail NI, Dr. Conor Patterson the Chief Executive of Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency, Anthony Stainers an Irish Medical Academic, Professor Colin Harvey of QUB Law and Dorie Finn of Our Future, Our Choice NI.
Speaking after the event MLA, Justin McNulty commented “For many people in my constituency who work or commute across the border on a daily basis, its invisibility is vital to their way of life. More than that people have become emotionally accustomed to the invisibility of the border and a reinstatement of any form of controls on movement will meet with strong and angry resistance.”
“Any hardening of the border is an affront to the Good Friday Agreement and an assault on the lives of those who live in the border region. The UK Government must come clean now and tell us what are the implications of Brexit on our rights, on our economy, on our ability to move and trade freely, on our farmers, on our health and on our education.”
“The time has long since passed for an end to the continuing uncertainty created by the Tory pie in the sky Brexit. We as the people residing in the area of these islands that will be most adversely impacted have a right to know, and our voices must be heard.”
