The committee recognizes in their report that while such negotiations would violate EU treaties, it is important to consider Ireland’s position after Brexit.
"But the primary responsibility for drawing attention to and finding solutions to these issues lies with the UK Government. Ireland now faces challenges that are not of its own making. Closer UK-Irish relations and stability in Northern Ireland must not be allowed to become ‘collateral damage’ of Brexit," the report states.
The report further notes the current the current significance of UK-Irish economic relations, and how both countries rely heavily on one another economically.
"Ireland represented the fifth largest market for UK goods overall and the largest for Northern Ireland’s exports. Office for national Statistics figures show that in 2014 5% of total UK exports (worth £28 billion) went to Ireland, while 3% of UK imports (worth £17 billion) came from Ireland. The Irish Department of Finance’s analysis notes that the UK is the source of almost 30% of imported merchandise to Ireland," the report adds.
On June 23, the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the European Union. While English voters largely backed leaving the bloc, voters in Scotland and Northern Ireland mostly voted to "remain."
