Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 17 February 2015

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs

Possible Exit of UK from European Union: Discussion (Resumed)

2:00 pm

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I found Mr. Aiken’s submission very interesting. He said there will probably be a referendum. Consider the consequences beyond the economic effect on Ireland if the United Kingdom leaves the Union. There was a referendum in the United Kingdom in 1975. Even with all Mr. Murdoch’s media backing the UK Government at the time, the result was still two to one in favour of the United Kingdom staying in the Union, which was very close. The United Kingdom rejected the single currency in 1999 and also the Maastricht treaty. One may recall that Mr. John Major’s Government almost collapsed in 1993. It is very interesting that the Institute of Economic Affairs stated recently that the United Kingdom could be better off outside the European Union. I believe it cites the cases of Switzerland, Iceland and Norway, which lie outside the Union but which are part of the European Free Trade Association. They, apparently, enjoy all the benefits of the EU Internal Market. I was listening to Mr. Nigel Farage some weeks ago. He quotes organisations such as the institute and claims what it has outlined could be the case. Even within the British Labour Party, some of whose members I know, there is a lot of scepticism that is not coming to the fore regarding the European Union. It is not just coming from the Conservatives. I do not believe the view on Mr. David Cameron because many of the businesses in England have railed against leaving the United Kingdom. However, I believe it is inevitable there will be a referendum and that Mr. Cameron has to call one.

During the last few weeks of the campaign in England, the Labour Party itself will come under fierce pressure internally to call a referendum. What is the delegates' view on the Institute of Economic Affairs, which appears to be contending the United Kingdom could very well be fine outside the European Union? What is the delegates' view on Switzerland, Iceland and Norway? Believe it or not, they indicated in recent months that they would have no interest whatsoever in being part of European Union because of the European Free Trade Association. They seem to be doing quite well outside the Union. If a referendum asking the UK electorate to leave the Union were called in the morning, it would be carried.

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