Northern Ireland has a veto over withdrawal from the EU, lawyers opposed to Brexit have argued at the beginning of a legal bid to try to stop the UK's planned departure from the European Union at Belfast High Court.
An exit would have a catastrophic effect on the peace process, Ronan Lavery QC said.
He claimed people in Northern Ireland have control over constitutional change following the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which largely ended republican and loyalist violence.
A cross-community group of politicians and victims campaigners is challenging the Prime Minister's ability to trigger Article 50 negotiations on an exit at the High Court in Belfast.
Mr Lavery said: "Sovereignty over constitutional affairs has been ceded. It is not the relationship, as it might once have been, between a dominant partner in a relationship and a submissive partner in a relationship.
"The people of Northern Ireland have control over constitutional change, it cannot be imposed upon the people of Northern Ireland.
"If that means that Northern Ireland could exercise a veto over withdrawal then I am (asserting) that is what Britain and Ireland signed up to when they signed the Good Friday Agreement."
Special provision has been made in that agreement governing whether Northern Ireland can become part of a United Ireland if the majority wish it.
[rte.ie]
4/10/16
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An exit would have a catastrophic effect on the peace process, Ronan Lavery QC said.
He claimed people in Northern Ireland have control over constitutional change following the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which largely ended republican and loyalist violence.
A cross-community group of politicians and victims campaigners is challenging the Prime Minister's ability to trigger Article 50 negotiations on an exit at the High Court in Belfast.
Mr Lavery said: "Sovereignty over constitutional affairs has been ceded. It is not the relationship, as it might once have been, between a dominant partner in a relationship and a submissive partner in a relationship.
"The people of Northern Ireland have control over constitutional change, it cannot be imposed upon the people of Northern Ireland.
"If that means that Northern Ireland could exercise a veto over withdrawal then I am (asserting) that is what Britain and Ireland signed up to when they signed the Good Friday Agreement."
Special provision has been made in that agreement governing whether Northern Ireland can become part of a United Ireland if the majority wish it.
[rte.ie]
4/10/16
-
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