No special EU status for Northern Ireland, Scotland

Scotland and Northern Ireland will not be able to attain special EU status in the wake of Brexit, Theresa Villiers has insisted.

The Northern Ireland Secretary dismissed the suggestion that regions that backed a Remain vote could have a relationship with the EU distinct from England and Wales, where majorities favoured a UK exit.

Ms Villiers, who campaigned for a Leave vote, said the UK would be treated as one nation in negotiations with the EU.

The Secretary of State was in Belfast for a day of talks on Brexit and other Northern Ireland-specific issues with the region's political leaders and Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan.

• "EU rules are very clear, membership is at member state level," she said.

"It's a national question, it's not possible within EU rules to have a part of a country being part of the European Union.

"So this decision has been made, the people of the United Kingdom have voted to leave the European Union - that decision is going to be respected, that's what the government will take forward."...
 [rte.ie]
29/6/16
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