Ireland 'should be involved' in UK debate on EU membership

EU Affairs Minister Paschal Donohue said Ireland should be part of the UK's debate on whether to leave the EU.

Donohoe told an Oireachtas committee that it is possible for Ireland to be involved in the debate in a nuanced way.

"We must not be blind to the fact that decisions that other countries can make could have consequences for us," he said.

He claimed the possible departure of Britain from the EU is one of the biggest items on Ireland's European agenda.

He suggested that Ireland should be a part of the debate in the UK without seeking to influence the outcome.