APPG ON IRELAND & THE IRISH IN BRITAIN DISCUSSES BREXIT AND THE RIGHTS OF IRISH CITIZENS
Martin Docherty-Hughes MP has met with Taoiseach Enda Kenny as part of a delegation of MPs on a visit to Dublin to discuss matters of concern to the Irish diaspora in Scotland and in the UK.
The MP for West Dunbartonshire, who is also vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Ireland and the Irish in Britain, joined a cross-party group of MPs during an historic visit to Dublin organised by CHAMP.
CHAMP, which promotes peace and prosperity in Ireland and the UK, arranged a series of meetings between MPs and senior politicians in Ireland to discuss British-Irish relations, Brexit and the Northern Ireland elections.
Martin Docherty-Hughes MP said:
“As vice-chair of the APPG on Ireland and the Irish in Britain, I was very pleased to have the opportunity to meet with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and a number of TDs and Senators to discuss the rights of Irish citizens in Scotland and in the UK.
“There is a large Irish diaspora here in West Dunbartonshire and many of my constituents tell me they are concerned about what Brexit will mean for their rights to live and work in the UK.
“This is an issue I have been pursuing with the UK Government in parliament for a number of months. Whilst Brexit Secretary David Davis has offered me his assurances that the special status given to Irish citizens through the Ireland Act (1949) will be protected and there will be no hard border, I will continue to press this government on the importance of ensuring there’s no change to the rights of Irish citizens post-Brexit.
“During the visit we held very positive meetings with the Taoiseach and leaders of the opposition parties and I took the opportunity to raise a number of issues on behalf of the Irish diaspora in Scotland. It’s more important than ever that we work to protect the rights of Irish citizens here in Scotland and further strengthen the links between our countries, critically during Brexit.”
