A public debate about the fallout from the Brexit decision will be held in Derry tonight.
The event is being held at Pilot’s Row Community Centre as part of the Gasyard Wall Feile.
The panel will be made up Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson, Fianna Fail TD Darragh O’Brien and Tom Kelly who was the leading figures in the Stronger in Europe group during the recent European Union referendum.
Ms Anderson welcomed the opportunity to discuss the repercussions of leaving the European Union.
“Being dragged out of the EU will have a serious impact on the North’s universities, the best interests of the business community will not be served by this, funding for community projects, rural communities are all going to be hit by the outworking’s of Brexit.
“The Féile event gives us an opportunity to discuss this all out and give people as much information as possible to make up their own minds.
“I am looking forward to the debate and would encourage as many people as possible to come along.”
Tom Kelly said it was ‘nothing short of economic recklessness’ for a British Government to have called a referendum on EU membership without having planned for the consequences.
“Now there are a range of challenges for Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Republic, to ensure that the benefits of EU membership in terms of free trade, travel and free movement of labour are not lost to the interests of England during any forthcoming negotiations.
“The establishment of an all-Ireland economic forum is a necessity that the Irish government can't ignore for much longer.”
Mr O’Brien said: “It’s imperative now more than ever that we use all the mechanisms at our disposal to maintain and strengthen the good relations between Ireland and Britain.
“When Brexit materialises, it is going to have very significant ramifications for the entire Island of Ireland, including the very real possibility of a border re-emerging between North and South.
“We must therefore ensure that there is significant political engagement with colleagues in neighbouring Parliaments and Assemblies on this issue.”
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