Ireland REFUSE to speak to Nicola Sturgeon over her plans to thwart Brexit
NICOLA Sturgeon’s bid to keep ties with the EU has been dealt another blow after Ireland said it would only hold formal talks with the UK Government.
Nicola Sturgeon orders intervention in Brexit legal case
Joe McHugh, the Republic’s minister for the Diaspora and International Development, confirmed on a trade visit to Edinburgh that Brexit talks would take place through Westminster.
He told The Herald: “It’s a UK Government position and what I like about their approach is they’re looking to involve the devolved assemblies.
“I think that’s important. They’re already doing it, it’s already happening."
Meanwhile, former Scottish Enterprise chief executive Jack Perry hit out Ms Sturgeon’s warnings of another independence referendum and urged her to seize the opportunities of leaving the EU.
Speaking at a pro-UK Scotland in Union event in Glasgow he said firms were “sick and tired of constitutional uncertainty” and added: “I believe Brexit presents more opportunities than threats but rather than seek to exploit these we have a Scottish Government using it to nurse a grievance.”
The First Minister has sought to protect Scotland relationship with the bloc by holding separate talks with European leaders following a majority Remain vote north of the Border in June’s EU referendum.
I believe Brexit presents more opportunities than threats
But her diplomatic efforts have been rebuffed by a string of countries including France and Spain.
Prime Minister Theresa May insists there must be a UK-wide approach to divorce negotiations with the EU, but wants devolved administrations to help shape it.
The Scottish Government wants a deal that will see Scotland retain its membership of the European single market.
It is expected to publish its proposals before the end of the year while Ms Sturgeon has threatened to call a second referendum to prevent the country “being driven off a hard Brexit cliff edge”.
Earlier this week she also confirmed she will launch a legal bid to block Brexit.
She has asked Scotland’s most senior law officer, Lord Advocate James Wolffe, to intervene in the Supreme Court case that could prevent Mrs May triggering Article 50 - the formal leave mechanism - without MPs approval.
He is expected to argue that the Scottish Parliament should be given its own veto.
A spokesman for the First Minister said: “We are determined to protect Scotland’s place in Europe, and are doing everything possible to achieve that, through the UK negotiating process while also speaking directly to the EU institutions and other member states, where our approach has been warmly received.”