The Tory government’s latest Brexit proposals “are not compatible with the Good Friday Agreement, the economic interests of Ireland north and south or the democratically expressed wishes of the people”, says Newry and Armagh MLA Conor Murphy.
Mr Murphy also branded the papers, which were published on Wednesday, a cynical attempt to use Ireland and its peace agreements as a bargaining chip in a wider EU negotiation.
“The document in common with the approach of the British Government thus far is big on rhetoric but thin on actual commitments,” he said.
“The Good Friday Agreement safeguards the human rights of citizens in a European context and provides for access to the ECJ. These are fundamental aspects of our political and policing dispensation. The British government proposal sets aside this obligation.
“The proposals on a Customs Union have been dismissed within hours as deluded, untested and unrealistic.
“They fail to deal with the loss of structural funds and CAP and other critical EU funding streams.”
The Sinn Fein MLA added that the British government’s aspiration to continue with North South co-operation “is completely at odds with their policy of imposing Brexit in the North” and he accused the government of “cynically exploiting the unique circumstances here in order to try and force concessions from the EU.”
“What they are really saying is; agree to our terms on the customs union if you want to protect the Irish peace process,” said Mr Murphy.
“If that is the case, it is a disgraceful attempt to play politics and exploit the EU’s commitment to our peace process in order to further their own ends.
“The onus is now on the Irish Government as a joint guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement and a member state of the EU Council to argue the democratically expressed wish of the cross-community majority in the North who voted to Remain within the EU with the rest of Ireland.
“Sinn Féin believes that the best solution to achieve this objective is through designated special status for the North within the EU.”