Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE IRISH GOVERNMENT has put contingency plans in place after the shock Brexit result saw Britain voting to leave the European Union.
In a statement, the government said its contingency framework identifies key policy issues that need to be managed by government departments in the aftermath of the referendum vote.
The Taoiseach reiterated that Ireland is to stay in the EU, and said:
It is important to be clear: the UK has not actually left the EU. Until it formally withdraws from the Union, the UK remains a full member, with all of its existing rights and obligations.
He noted that businesses can continue to trade as normal and people can continue to travel as normal between Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland.
In a statement, the Taoiseach said that he is “very sorry” about the Brexit result, but he respects the British people’s decision.
Kenny also wished Cameron well for the future, and reiterated that Ireland’s strong and close relationship with the UK will remain.
Preparation for Brexit
Kenny set out to reassure people in Ireland that the government had prepared for a possible Brexit.
I want to assure the Irish public that we have prepared to the greatest extent possible for this eventuality.
There will be no immediate change to the free flow of people, goods and services between our islands.
The main concerns for Ireland in the case of a Brexit relate to potential impacts for trade and the economy, for Northern Ireland, for the common travel area and for the European Union.
The government undertook detailed contingency planning in order to “to protect and advance this country’s interests”.
Kenny will brief leaders of the opposition on the plans later.
Ireland is a strong, open and competitive economy – our ongoing economic recovery is testament to our resilience.
We will continue to implement policies that prioritise economic stability, growth and job creation.
He said that the Minister for Finance and his officials are in close contact with the Central Bank, the NTMA and international partners “to ensure that any short-term market volatility is carefully managed”.
The pound sterling dropped more than 11.5% (17 cent) since voting closed at 10pm, which is a 31-year low for the currency.
Northern Ireland
Sinn Féin have called for a border poll on Northern Ireland in the wake of the result.
On the topic of the north, the Taoiseach said that the implications of Brexit for Northern Ireland and for relations between North and South “will require careful consideration”.
We will approach these issues in the same spirit of partnership that has underpinned the peace process and has transformed relationships on this island since the Good Friday Agreement.
He is set to meet with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Executive on Monday week at the North/South Ministerial Council for discussions on Brexit.
One other area of concern is the Common Travel Area between Britain and Ireland, and the Taoiseach said the government will do its best to minimise any possible disruptions to this.
Irish people in Britain
Enda Kenny said that the government is also “acutely aware of the concerns which will be felt across the Irish community in Britain”, and assured people that it will also think of their during negotiations.
As for the impact of Brexit on Ireland and its relationship with the European Union, the Taoiseach was clear:
Ireland will, of course, remain a member of the European Union. That is profoundly in our national interest.
After more than 40 years of membership, we have built up strong bonds of partnership with all the other member states, and with the European institutions, that will continue to serve us well. We must now begin a period of reflection and debate on how we can renew the Union of 27 and equip it for the challenges ahead.
The European Council is set to meet next week.
Contingency plan
Kenny said that the contingency framework – which is coordinated by his department – will be an iterative process during the Brexit negotiations.
The framework will enable the government departments to minimise potential risks likely to arise, he said.
Priority issues in the framework will include UK-EU negotiations, British-Irish relations, Northern Ireland, trade, investment, North-South border impacts, competitiveness and macroeconomic issues, research/innovation funding and energy.
“It is important to recall that Ireland – as a committed Member State of the EU – will work within the EU context,” said the Taoiseach’s statement.
At the same time, Ireland has unique bilateral interests with the UK, including with regard to Northern Ireland, and the government will also have to work bilaterally in close contact with the UK Government and the devolved administration in Northern Ireland.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan said the Brexit outcome “is certainly not the result which I or the Government had hoped for”, but reassured the government has “very much been prepared for both possible outcomes”.
He has been in touch with Irish Ambassadors from key EU capitals to travel to Dublin to discuss next steps.
Flanagan said that the government also want to keep engaging with the Irish community in the UK, as well as stakeholders such as Irish employers’ representatives and businesses.
The Department of Finance said that it has been actively preparing for a Brexit, working closely with the Central Bank and the NTMA “to ensure financial and economic stability can be maintained”.
It said that the economic and fiscal policies implemented over recent years “have placed the State in a stronger position to weather any prolonged economic shock that may be caused by this result”.
Minister for Finance Michael Noonan TD said that he will be working to ensure that “we will seek to support the continuation of the important and mutually beneficial economic ties that exist between the UK and Ireland”.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
“Big Names”. …. Big Names in their own minds!!!!
Does 2FM train them all to speak with the same voice / accent. It’s like nails on a blackboard.
Radio nova all the way.
@Brian Dunne: 100%
@Brian Dunne: Same playlist since it launched when it asked Metro Newspaper readers to list their favourite rock songs. They have been sticking to that rigidly. You may argue that goes for all the stations, but they inject fresh new songs every week. Radio Nova play the same 2 or 3 songs from about 10 artists
@Jack Burton: I have to agree unfortunately!
@Jack Burton: but that’s obviously what many people like…their ratings are increasing
@Brian Dunne: They do some Powerballads throwback that really hits the spot, they’re not afraid of bringing in the cheese.
@Jack Burton: I love Radio Nova but yes I’ve noticed all Summer it’s the same songs every few days. So many other great 80’s hits, plenty of B-sides not sure why they don’t branch out their playlists more.
There was no collapse in listenership when Tubridy left his radio slot either, all evidence points to high earners at RTE having little or no impact on ratings so salaries are entirely unjustified.
Of course our government doesn’t care and writes them blank cheques regardless.
Big names lol they were so big they were snapped up immediately id say.
Wouldn’t believe a word of it 2fm pure mule
@Brendan Murphy: total muck
@Brendan Murphy: man doesn’t like radio station so believes that nobody else can possibly like it, to the extent that he believes that independent listenership figures are bogus
Plenty of stations much better than that tripe
@Ian Cryan: Spot on .
It’s because those mid-morning until afternoon presenters on Today FM are insufferable….
@Noel Leech: you mean cash machine fm?
@Brian Dunne: oh yeah that’s the one, good man
I’ll stick with Radio Nova. PJ and Jim in the morning and Pat Courtenay for the drive home keep me sane in the traffic.
@Ger Whelan: My only problem with Nova is that they play the same 2 or 3 songs from each artist.
Don’t belive this at all. Pure fiction. Maybe an audit or review of methodology of data collection.
@Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson: Can we have an audit or review on the data that leads you to call this fiction??
@Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson: What a silly statement.
2FM is station of wannabes with notions. Full stop.
Just goes to show, clinging onto talent that once worked well or seemed good isn’t necessarily the only option. There’s always a replacement, there’s always a roll of the dice, it may even be from people tuning in to see what the new shows are like, a bounce so to speak.
Just AI presenting now
Who paid for this survey?….enough said!
Not the station it was years ago…
@Mark Gannon: Ah Larry and the Just a minute Quiz , Good times .
Timewarp Ireland on the interweb , no ads , no DJs , music heaven.
‘In spite of stars leaving’ . Should that not be ‘because of stars leaving’?
Lefty station
@Fintan Pox: right fool
@Joe Kelly: change the f to a t in fool!!
According to the far right on venture capitalist Elon Musks X platform, these figures are inflated by AI. lol
The question is who got greased to say RTE 2Fm has seen an increase in listenership figures
Have a spotify playlist for work over 110 hours long.Will never go back to the radio.2 songs then cringey talk by usually 2 to 4 eejits pretending to be having the craic,ads,news,ads,more talk,maybe a song,news,ads,news,ads,ads,ads,ads.
It’s a joke.One Of those things that only reveals itself to be so bad when you step away from it
Honestly who needs the same news spoken word for word every hour TEN times a day.Never again.
How do they know even if we listen @ all have they a bug in our homes or what coz nobody ever came knocking on my door or rang me up just another white wash poll that means nothing when it’s certainly non transparent
@liam ward: https://info.ipsosmrbi.com/jnlr
That’s how.
This proves that “Talent” is a liability.
Callan gained more than when Turdity was presenting! I thought he was “”De Talent!??” More proof the Management Haven’t a Clue! LOL!!!
For a national station, 2FM’s listenership is so poor to start with, anything would be an improvement.
Burn down the disco
Hang the blessed DJ
Because the music that they constantly play
It says nothing to me about my life
Hang the blessed DJ
Because the music they constantly play. The Smiths
So it was just the people that left the listeners couldn’t stand then!
Big echoes still rubbish
Mistake in headline. Should be “because of ” instead of “despite”!
JLNR is total nonsense. Not worth the paper it’s written on.
Why does the journal.ie allow some of the conspiracy posts to remain. We complain when Twitter and Instagram don’t take down obvious spam. Many of the postings on this topic with their anti MSM are straight out of the extreme right playbook.
What wavelength is it on.
have your say