IRELAND must have a contingency plan in place in case Britain exits the EU, the Government has been warned.
Fianna Fáil foreign affairs spokesperson Brendan Smith has addressed TDs on the danger of Ireland being part of the single market if Britain was not.
His comments come as the Conservative Party claimed a majority government following yesterday's general election.
Party leader David Cameron has previously promised a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU by 2017, if the Tories are still in power.
With the writing already on the wall, yesterday Mr Smith called on the Irish Government to put a contingency plan in place to deal with the Brexit, should the referendum go ahead.
Speaking of the damaging effect on trade in Ireland if Britain exits the EU, Mr Smith said: "We do not want customs posts back in south Ulster and along part of Leinster and Connacht. That would be a nightmare from the point of view of trade, commerce and developing business.”
His sentiments were echoed by his fellow party member Louth TD Séamus Kirk, who said Ireland would be left “extremely exposed” if Britain left the EU.
The comments were made during the Dáil debate to mark Europe Day – the annual celebration of peace and unity with the EU, which takes place tomorrow.
