The Sinn Féin EU candidate for the Midlands North West constituency, Matt Carthy, is in Brussels today to take part in a conference on Irish reunification.

The conference, hosted by Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson, will hear from speakers from Germany and Cyprus as well as a range of academics and economists on the affects of partition on a country’s economy and how economic and political self-determination would impact positively on the general lives of citizens.

Speaking in advance of the event Councillor Carthy said:

“I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to be part of this delegation to Brussels and I wish to commend my colleague Martina Anderson MEP for this initiative".

“Coming from a border county - he added - I know the devastating impact that partition has on our country.  Partition has undermined economic development north and south, but in particular it has stunted economic development in border areas such as mine. It is no coincidence that counties Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim and Louth have among the highest unemployment, poverty and emigration and the lowest investment rates in the state. These counties have suffered and are suffering the worst economic affects of partition, made worse by government austerity policies". 

Carthy underlined that "Partition is unjust, uneconomic and inefficient. It has undermined economic development across Ireland. An all-Ireland economy would be stronger and would offer new opportunities and potential for growth and prosperity. I look forward to participating in the conference and to bringing this important debate to Brussels.  It is clear that Europe can play a role in advancing towards an all-Ireland economy and in the transition to a United Ireland in the same way it did during the German re-unification process.”