Maurice Morrow RMG17
TWO of Fermanagh’s MLAs have taken very different positions on the prospect of the UK leaving the European Union.
While Sinn Fein’s Sean Lynch says Northern Ireland has gained much from being a part of the EU, the DUP’s Maurice Morrow says he supports his party leader Arlene Foster in urging people to vote for leaving Europe.
Mr Lynch said border areas in particular had benefited hugely from European Union membership.
“These border areas have benefited from finances that otherwise would never have been made available to them, through infrastructure projects designed to boost the economy via the Peace and structural funding programmes.
“Speaking to local people, the majority of individuals place great value on our membership with the EU and cannot understand why anyone would wish to jeopardise that. The farming community, the agri-food industry and the community and voluntary sector have all come out publicly and supported our membership with the EU and its benefits.
“The business community too have serious concerns about any exit from the EU and the fact that a survey carried out by the Chamber of Commerce in the North has shown that an overwhelming majority of its members, 81 per cent, wish to remain in the EU is a clear indication of the value of our continued membership to business.
However another local MLA, Maurice Morrow, has backed the Brexit from the European Union and supported the stance of party leader Arlene Foster.
“I back my party leader 100% plus, I think she’s got it right, as she gets most things, if not all things right.”
He continued: “We’ve always been Euro sceptic we’ve never tried to hide away from that or say it differently. I think what the deal the prime minister has got is not just enough and we will be advocating that the UK should withdraw and we should start trading with the rest of the world.”
When asked if a possible exit could hurt a rural constituency like Fermanagh South Tyrone which relies upon EU farming grants the minister was adamant local people need not lose out.
“I don’t think it will be to our disadvantage, but rather to our advantage and anyway the money that we are pouring into Europe, we are not getting our fair share back so that money can be reserved (grant money for farmers).
“I believe if you take a look at the amount of money we are putting in we’re not getting that out so I believe there would be potential to, from a UK perspective to encourage the government to spend the money and to allocate that funding that is going to Europe locally and distribute it across the UK of which Fermanagh is part of.”
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