Fantasy rhetoric on Brexit must be challenged ahead of key talks this week – Richmond

Ahead of key Brexit talks this week, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Rathdown, Neale Richmond, has stated that the fantasy Brexit rhetoric coming from the UK must always be challenged.

Deputy Richmond said, “In a remarkable intervention, we have heard the UK’s Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, a hardline Brexiteer, casually refer to the U.K. as being able to revert to an ‘Australian style’ trade deal with the EU.

“This is utterly misleading as the EU and Australia have an extremely narrow trading relationship akin to No Deal terms. The Foreign Secretary didn’t choose to describe such a reversion as a ‘Somali style’ trade deal with the EU.

“We are also seeing ridiculous reports from the oft quoted unnamed sources in the Brexiteer press that the EU is about to drop Michel Barnier as its Brexit negotiator.

“This could not be further from the truth as Michel Barnier continues to have total support from all EU Member States and a clear negotiating mandate set by the European Council, endorsed by the European Parliament. 

“We are entering another extremely important week of Brexit talks and it is vital that this sort of fantasy Brexit rhetoric is challenged. 

“Unfortunately for some in the UK, winning the blame game is far more important than minimising the massive economic damage of Brexit by agreeing some form of deal based on the agreed terms of the Political Declaration.

“The economic damage of Covid-19 has been devastating for so many in Ireland, but this week new measures will be introduced to help businesses prepare for the economic situation that will be caused either by a No Deal Brexit or the terms of what could only be a very limited Brexit Deal at this stage. 

“As ever, it is important that businesses continue to prepare and check out www.gov.ie/brexit,” Deputy Richmond concluded.