Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Fianna Fáil values the key role that Britain plays as an ally and friend of Ireland in the European Union. We will be vocal in supporting the UK remaining as a full member state of the EU. We believe it would be a political and economic disaster, both for Ireland and Britain, if Britain exited the EU. It would also have a serious impact on British-Irish trade. We must also factor in the Northern Ireland dimension to this debate.

While we do not agree that the four freedoms of the EU should be compromised to ensure that Britain remains in the EU, the Union must show some flexibility in other areas when engaging with Britain to prevent an exit where possible.

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