‘Ireland should tap EU for special funds under Brexit’

The Government should urgently press Brussels to tap multi-billion euro funds if the UK were to vote in June to leave the EU, the country’s leading expert on the risks facing Ireland has said.

Associate research professor at the Economic and Social Research Institute Edgar Morgenroth told the Irish Examiner that Ireland should immediately lobby the EU in the event of the UK leaving to fund major initiatives such as building an electricity interconnector to France, transport networks on the island and accessing transit permits for trucks travelling via England to continental ports.

He said the Government would also need to campaign to remove the risks facing milk and other agricultural goods.

European states would likely be receptive to arguments that Ireland, north and south – should be considered a special case, Mr Morgenroth said.

He said he did not favour the Government pumping money into the economy, however.

The issues that arise from a Brexit for the Irish economy and society were very specific, he said, and “our EU partners are open to this”.

“We might get a tough deal if we don’t argue the case ourselves,” Mr Morgenroth warned.

The risks include the all-Ireland electricity market and potential passport controls if the UK were to set immigration limits, he said.

Ireland may also need to get the EU on its behalf to negotiate with Britain for special transit permits for trucks travelling to continental ports.

Fish quotas could be another area of conflict, he said. On energy, he said a Brexit could change “the calculus on a link to France”.

Looking after small firms hit by trade tariffs in Britain “would be something we would have to look after ourselves”, he said.