THE TAOISEACH IS going to meet Northern Ireland’s first and deputy first ministers in Dublin today to discuss the Brexit fallout.
It’s the first time the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) has met since the UK voted to leave the European Union last month.
Northern Ireland and Scotland voted to remain in the EU, while England and Wales voted to leave the bloc in the 23 June referendum.
There has been much speculation since then as to what the vote will mean in terms of free movement of people, trade and the potential return of a border between the republic and north of Ireland.
Enda Kenny is expected to raise the possibility of developing an all-island forum with the support of political parties, north and south, to discuss the challenges arising from the referendum.
Speaking in advance of the meeting, Kenny said: “I look forward to meeting with First Minister [Arlene] Foster, Deputy First Minister [Martin] McGuinness, and their colleagues in the Northern Ireland Executive.
This plenary meeting will provide an opportunity for us to have a strategic and constructive discussion on the impact of the referendum for Northern Ireland and the all-island implications of the vote, and how we are going to work together to protect the interests of all our citizens on the island of Ireland.
Kenny said the government also wanted to emphasise its full support for “preserving and strengthening north-south co-operation” and discuss the commitments set out in the Fresh Start Agreement such as cross-border infrastructure including the A5, the Ulster Canal and the Narrow Water Bridge Project.
Meanwhile, in an interview with the Financial Times, British chancellor George Osborne has pledged to cut corporation tax from 20% to below 15% in a bid to encourage businesses to continue investing in the UK following the Brexit vote.
Ireland’s current corporation tax rate is 12.5%.
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