Fianna Fáil ‘will work’ with Government to defend country’s interests

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said he and his party will work with the Government as it tries to defend Ireland's interests in the upcoming negotiations on the UK leaving the European Union.

Mr Martin said he and Taoiseach Enda Kenny will "tic-tac" ahead of next week's European Council summit at which the initial stages of the UK's exit is expected to be discussed.

“We will work together in influencing the people we know in Europe, get them to understand our difficulties and our challenges now as a result of this decision,” he said.

Mr Martin will also be in Brussels for a summit of party leaders from the liberal Alde group, to which Fianna Fáil belongs.

He expects to speak with Mr Kenny on Friday. The Dáil will also hear statements on Brexit on Monday.

"It is extremely important that we work in the context of those negotiations to preserve the unique relationship between Ireland and Britain: economic, social and cultural," Mr Martin said at a press conference on Friday.

“That needs to be accommodated, recognised and understood in the negotiation framework.

“Just as we took a very constructive approach in terms of the fiscal treaty referendum while in Opposition, on this occasion also we will be doing everything we possibly can to support the national interests and support the best interest of the Irish people.

“We will be doing everything possible we can to support the Government in that regard.”

He also said he saw no prospect of a second referendum in Britain, adding he believed that Britain is now out of the EU for a very long time.

Mr Martin said that while Fianna Fáil is in favour of united Ireland, he described Sinn Fein’s call for a border poll “a distraction”.

“Given that we have such instability and uncertainty, what is required now is to focus on the negotiations that are going to take place on Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union and to ensure that we get the best deal possible that protects Ireland’s economic interest and the almost exclusive concern of all concerned in the coming two years.”

He described British prime minster David Cameron’s decision to hold a referendum “reckless” and said he found it hard to understand the UK government’s decision that it could renegotiate its EU membership and then hold and win a referendum.

In a statement issued in the early hours of Friday morning, Mr Martin said, “For four decades a strand of English anti-European sentiment has built a deep resentment which led to this result. It was a mean spirited campaign in which fear of non-British people was promoted to a disturbing degree.

"The fact that Scotland and Northern Ireland voted decisively to remain in the EU reinforces how divisive it has been. The result is regrettable but it must now be dealt with quickly and decisively."

He also said Taoiseach Enda Kenny must insist at a European Council summit next week that Ireland is “fully involved in the negotiations on the terms of Britain’s exit and that provision be made for regions particularly badly hit by the economic consequences”.

Mr Martin said Ireland must state clearly where it stands, emphasising “we will not follow the UK and we will work within the EU”.

“Following the result of the UK referendum Ireland must be absolutely clear about our position,” Mr Martin said in the statement.

“We will not be following the UK and we will work constructively to reform the EU from within. The economic, social and political case for Ireland to be a member of the Union remains overwhelming.

“Our focus now must be to minimise the damage caused by this result. We have a distinct and urgent national interest which should be recognised by our European partners.”