“No thanks Nigel”- Richmond slams planned “Irexit” conference

An anti-EU conference being held in Dublin next February has been slammed by the Seanad spokesman on EU Affairs

Fine Gael Senator Neale Richmond said the sham gathering will seek to promote incorrect information about Ireland’s role in the EU.

Senator Richmond said: “Not content with destroying the UK through the idiocy of Brexit, Nigel Farage and his cronies have now set their eyes on Ireland.

“The conference advertised for February is being promoted by the Europe of Freedom and Democracy group in the European Parliament, led by Nigel Farage.

“In a video promoting the conference, the group makes wild and blatantly false claims about Ireland’s role within the European Union.

“They incorrectly state that Ireland’s corporation tax rate of 12% is under attack.

“Firstly the current rate of corporation tax rate is at 12.5%, secondly it is not under threat and thirdly even if it was Ireland has a rock solid veto on this area.”

“The group further states that Ireland’s biggest export is the UK when the UK is actually our third biggest after the US and Belgium.”

Senator Richmond appealed to the public not to engage with the conference or the false information being spun by its organisers.

He said: “One of the key reasons Brexit came to pass was the decades of unchallenged euro scepticism from Farage et al that was allowed seep into the public mind and take root.

“Ireland has benefitted greatly from its European membership and while it is positive that 80-90% of Irish people repeatedly say in opinion polls that they wish to remain in the EU, we cannot be complacent.

“We must take on the lies and mistruths being spread; stand up for Ireland; and say no thanks Nigel,” Senator Richmond said.