Written Evidence submitted by the Labour Party in Northern Ireland for the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee’s inquiry into Northern Ireland and the EU Referendum (EUN0004)

Membership of the EU has had an enormous positive benefit to Northern Ireland. Continued membership is vital to economic and political stability as we look to a BETTER FUTURE.

The UK Labour Party position on European Union membership is very clear and favours the UK staying in the EU. The Labour campaign led by Alan Johnston will focus on "defending the rights of British workers”. Employees, businesses, consumers, students and scientists would all be "damaged and diminished" by exiting the EU. 

Since 1948 the EU has fostered stability and peace across Europe after the dark days of unprecedented conflict during the 20th Century.  We entered the 21st century with the EU further expanding and strengthening our security. Strengthening solidarity with our European partners at this time of uncertainty has never been so important.  Forty years ago in 1975 a referendum in the UK strongly endorsed the decision to join the EU three years earlier.  The fundamental reasons to be in the EU have changed little since then. The hope is that a similar sense will prevail at this time and we and the next generation can look forward to many more years of improving stability and prosperity.

The case for Northern Ireland staying in the EU is the strongest of all the regions within the UK. The contribution of the EU to life in Northern Ireland in over 40 years has been essential to securing our peace and prosperity through Peace and Reconciliation funds, the Common Agricultural Policy, Structural Funds, Rural Development funds and research and technology support. 

Northern Ireland has the smallest population of any region within the UK with only 2.9% of the UK population of 64.6 million people. It is the only region that shares a land border with another state in the EU. Its small size makes it vulnerable and we have to work harder to develop our economy. Increased isolation would make things even harder. Take away the influence of EU membership and we risk turning the clock back 40 years.

It is not a risk worth taking.

All of the questions below arise if the UK votes to leave the EU. They produce answers that mean an inevitable and radical destabilisation of Northern Ireland and undoing of the hard won achievements of the current generation.

When deciding on the question of staying IN or leaving the EU we should all ask ourselves the following questions:

1. Do we want to see a resumption of border controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland?  Breaking from the EU would mean that Northern Ireland would resume border controls and our links with Ireland would be strained. The advances in cross-border economic, political and cultural links that were brought about by free movement would dissipate. The imposition of passport checks and customs posts would impact badly upon on tourism and trade.

2. Do we want to risk rolling back the Good Friday Agreement? The so called “Good Friday Agreement” was signed on 10th April 1998 in the context of continuing membership of the EU and the benefits that this brings.  It was a multi-party agreement by most of Northern Ireland's political parties accompanied by an international agreement between the British and Irish Governments. The agreement was predicated on both the UK and Ireland remaining in the EU. Exit from the EU would risk undoing the achievements made since then and destabilise the political situation between the UK and Ireland. It is not a risk worth taking.

3. Do we want to see an end to the peace dividend just as there is light at the end of the tunnel? A combination of Peace support and structural funds from the EU has seen some €2.4 billion received from the EU between 2007 and 2013. Exiting the EU would prejudice access to over that amount planned up to 2020 and hinder reconciliation, jobs and the economic development of Northern Ireland.

4. Do we want to see hard won employment rights eroded?  The EU has been a major driving force behind improved employment rights across the EU over the last 40 years. Norther Ireland workers have benefitted greatly in this time.  A UK government released from the EU would be free to roll-back many of these rights and we might expect to see increases in working hours, poorer employments rights and fewer family friendly concessions such as maternity and paternity leave.

5. Do we want to see progress towards genuine equality stalled? The EU has led on human rights and equality whilst Northern Ireland has lagged behind. Resolving issues such as LGBT rights, equal marriage rights, gender equality and abortion choice are essential for a fair society.

6. Do we want to see a rapid decline in business and employment in Northern Ireland? Although trade with the rest of the UK is very important we should consider that UK trade with the EU market at around £227B per annum. Any EU exit would impact on this would have a knock-on effect for Northern Ireland UK trade. Also the European market in itself is vital to the Northern Ireland economy. Around 55% of Northern Ireland manufacturing goes to the EU and much of this is via the Irish Republic. Earlier in 2015 a report for the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee indicated that the Northern Ireland economy would lose some €1 billion per annum following a UK exit from the EU and see 3% decline in GDP. This would threaten the future of many businesses and lead to job losses.

7. Can our farming industry exist without EU support? The EU Common Agricultural Policy delivers nearly 82% of the farming income in Northern Ireland. There is predicted to be an estimated €3billion income planned up to 2020. It cannot be expected that the UK government would replace this support and the consequences would be disastrous for the survival and competiveness of the agri-food industry.

8. Do we want to be isolated from educational technological innovation in the EU? Much of our innovative technology research in industry and Universities is based upon access to EU funding. The Northern Ireland Executive has planned to secure at least €145m from Horizon 2020 in the next five years. This represents an increase of 65% over the funding gained in the last period under the Framework 7 Programme that preceded Horizon 2020.  Valuable partnerships and links across the EU would be lost, existing programmes of research and innovation stalled and a technology gap would emerge rapidly. The role of the EU in driving UK science and innovation is sometimes underestimated. Freedom of movement of researchers from industry and universities alongside would be severely hampered and access to developing technologies in the EU limited. Programmes for exchanges for researchers and students would cease and affect generations to come. 

9. What would we do in Northern Ireland if other parts of the UK disagreed? It is not certain what the UK government would decide if Scotland and Wales voted to remain in the EU and England voted to leave. A constitutional crises would surely emerge with a second referendum on Scottish independence being inevitable. The dilemma for Northern Ireland if it also votes to stay in the EU would be challenging as the likelihood of a breakup of the UK increases.

Look to a BETTER FUTURE - Vote to stay IN.

17 February 2016