The Bruges Group spearheaded the intellectual battle to win a vote to leave the European Union and, above all, against the emergence of a centralised EU state.

NOTE! This site uses cookies and similar technologies.

If you not change browser settings, you agree to it. Learn more

I understand

Cookies are a technology which we use to provide you with tailored information on our website. A cookie is a piece of code that is sent to your internet browser and is stored on your system.

Please see below for a list of cookies this website uses:

Cookie name: _utma, _utmb, _utmc, _utmz

Purpose: Google Analytics cookies. Google Analytics is software that lets us analyse how visitors use our site. We use this information to improve our website and provide the best experience to visitors.

Function: These cookies collect data in an anonymous form. Please see Google's privacy policy for further information. To opt out of these cookies, please visit Google's website.

Cookie name: Sitecore

Purpose: Stores information, such as language and regional preferences, that our content management system (the system we use to update our website) relies on to function.

Function: This is a session cookie and will be destroyed when you close your browser. This cookie is essential for our website to function.

Cookie name: ASP.net_session

Purpose: Allows the website to save your session state across different pages. For example, if you have completed a survey, the website will remember that you have done so and will not ask you to complete it again when you view another page on the website.

Function: This is a session cookie and will be destroyed when you close your browser. This cookie is essential for our website to function.

Cookie name: website#sc_wede

Purpose: Indicates whether the user's browser supports inline editing of content. This indicates whether our content management system will work for our website administrators in their internet browsers.

Function: This is a session cookie and will be destroyed when you close your browser. This cookie is essential for our website to function.

Cookie name: redirected

Purpose: Remembers when the site forwards you from one page to another, so you can return to the first page. For example, go back to the home page after viewing a special 'splash' page.

Function: This is a session cookie, which your browser will destroy when it shuts down. The website needs this cookie to function.

Cookie name: tccookiesprefs

Purpose: Remembers when you respond to the site cookie policy, so you do not see the cookie preferences notice on every page.

Function: If you choose to remember your preference with a temporary cookie, your browser will remove it when you shut it down, otherwise the cookie will be stored for about a year.

Cookie name: _ga

Purpose: Additional Google Analytics cookie. Google Analytics is software that lets us analyse how visitors use our site. We use this information to improve our website and provide the best experience to visitors.

Function: These cookies collect data in an anonymous form. Please see Google's privacy policy for further information.

Cookie name: SC_ANALYTICS_GLOBAL_COOKIE, SC_ANALYTICS_SESSION_COOKIE

Purpose: Sitecore Analytics is software that lets us analyse how visitors use our site. We use this information to improve our website and provide the best experience to visitors.

Function: These cookies collect data in an anonymous form. When you close your browser, it will delete the 'session' cookie; it will keep the 'global' cookie for about one year.

Facebook cookies

We use Facebook 'Like' buttons to share site feedback. For further information, see Facebook's cookie policy page.

Twitter cookies

We use Twitter 'Tweet' buttons to share site feedback. For further information, see Twitter's privacy statement.

YouTube cookies

We embed videos from our official YouTube channel. YouTube uses cookies to help maintain the integrity of video statistics, prevent fraud and to improve their site experience. If you view a video, YouTube may set cookies on your computer once you click on the video player.

Cookies pop-up

When you close the cookies pop-up box by clicking "OK", a permanent cookie will be set on your machine. This will remember your preference so that the pop-up doesn't display across any pages whenever you visit the website.

Opting out/removing cookies

To opt out of Google Analytics cookies, please visit Google’s website.

You can also control what cookies you accept through your internet browser. For details on how to do this, please visit aboutcookies.org. Please note that by deleting our cookies or disabling future cookies you may not be able to access certain areas or features of our website.

mailing list
donate now
join now
shop

Bruges Group Blog

Spearheading the intellectual battle against the EU. And for new thinking in international affairs.
Font size: + –
Subscribe to this blog post
Print

Why Brexit Should Be Accompanied by Irexit (Ireland exit)

Papers
5 Comments

Ireland’s political Establishment is only now realising that Brexit really does mean Brexit and that the case for an accompanying Irexit is overwhelming. Irish opinion is likely to move in this direction over the coming two years and UK policy-makers should encourage that.

Dr Anthony Coughlan

22nd February 2017
Read the full research online

For forty years from 1973 the Republic was a major recipient of EU money through the Common Agricultural Policy. Since 2014 the Republic has become a net contributor to the EU Budget. In future money from Brussels will be Irish taxpayers’ money recycled. This removes the principal basis of Irish europhilia, official and unofficial.

If Dublin seeks to remain in the EU when the UK leaves it will have to pay more to the EU budget to help compensate for the loss of Britain’s net contribution. A bonus of leaving along with the UK on the other hand is that it would enable the Republic to get its sea-fisheries back - the value of annual fish-catches by foreign boats in Irish waters being a several-times multiple of whatever money Ireland got from the EU over the years.

As regards trade and investment, the Republic sends 61% by value of its goods exports and 66% of its services exports to countries that are outside the continental EU26, mostly English-speaking. The USA is the most important market for its foreign-owned firms and the UK for its indigenous ones. Economically and psychologically it is closer to Boston than Berlin and to Britain than Germany.

ireland1ireland2ireland3

Read the full research online

Tweet
0
Youth activists talk with leading Brexiteers
The UK is stuck in a quagmire over EU Defence Unio...
 

Comments 5

Guest
Guest - Brian Galipeau on Thursday, 16 March 2017 12:41

CONTAGION is what the EU most fears about Brexit, we're told. Could the Irish Republic be next? Dublin, Stormont, and Westminster are equally desperate to keep an open border between the Republic and NI; as it more or less has been since Irish independence. The border negotiations are going to pose the question for the Irish about whether their long term interest is best served by staying in the EU or riding with the UK. (I seem to remember that the Irish are already under pressure from Brussels to raise the level of their Corporation Tax, which the Commission thinks is too low).

0 Cancel Reply
CONTAGION is what the EU most fears about Brexit, we're told. Could the Irish Republic be next? Dublin, Stormont, and Westminster are equally desperate to keep an open border between the Republic and NI; as it more or less has been since Irish independence. The border negotiations are going to pose the question for the Irish about whether their long term interest is best served by staying in the EU or riding with the UK. (I seem to remember that the Irish are already under pressure from Brussels to raise the level of their Corporation Tax, which the Commission thinks is too low).
Cancel Update Comment
Guest
Guest - Simon Parker on Saturday, 18 March 2017 00:19

The Irish still hate the Brits too much to prioritize them ahead of the EU. Sad, but true

0 Cancel Reply
The Irish still hate the Brits too much to prioritize them ahead of the EU. Sad, but true
Cancel Update Comment
Guest
Guest - Edwin on Tuesday, 04 July 2017 13:06

That's nonsense. Are you Irish or living in Ireland? There is no hate, but if you think we will leave the EU in the manner the UK has, you are very mistaken. While we have grievances with the EU, we are content with our membership for the most part.

0 Cancel Reply
That's nonsense. Are you Irish or living in Ireland? There is no hate, but if you think we will leave the EU in the manner the UK has, you are very mistaken. While we have grievances with the EU, we are content with our membership for the most part.
Cancel Update Comment
Robert Oulds
Robert Oulds on Tuesday, 04 July 2017 16:28

The authors of the report are Irish and live in the Republic. They, along with others, see the advantages of Irexit and reinstating RoI's sovereignty.

0 Cancel Reply
The authors of the report are Irish and live in the Republic. They, along with others, see the advantages of Irexit and reinstating RoI's sovereignty.
Cancel Update Comment
Guest
Guest - Brian Galipeau on Saturday, 18 March 2017 12:42

I'm not sure that the Irish do hate the British. In any event, the point of the article and my comment is that the Irish will be inclined follow their own national self interest.

0 Cancel Reply
I'm not sure that the Irish do hate the British. In any event, the point of the article and my comment is that the Irish will be inclined follow their own national self interest.
Cancel Update Comment
Already Registered? Login Here
Guest
Monday, 24 July 2017