Britain’s departure from the EU would be a nightmare for Ireland

OUR government and our officials should not be complacent about the outcome of a British referendum on EU membership, expecting either that it won’t go ahead or that, if it does, the British will vote to remain within the EU.

The prospect of Britain leaving the EU should be treated as very real and Ireland has to examine its contingency plans urgently, even if the British vote does not happen until 2017.

If Britain goes can we stay in? And if we stay in how will we cope, given that Britain is our largest trading partner and the biggest external investor in Ireland? It is the only country with which we share a common language and a land border. We are close culturally; one-in-six British people is of Irish descent. The visit of Queen Elizabeth in May 2011 did much to bury old prejudices and repair old wounds. The British are our closest friends in the EU.