Laois councillor welcomes post-Brexit EU-UK reset

The new deal between the EU and UK is crucial to maintaining peace on the island of Ireland, according to a Laois County Council who is among a select few Irish local politicians with a voice in the EU.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley, independent, is a member of the EU Committee of the Regions where she is part part of the European Alliance Group, which she said welcomes the 'resetting' the EU-UK relationship as a positive development.

She commented on the benefits for Ireland in a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"From an Irish perspective, fostering greater cooperation and exchange between the EU and UK is necessary not only for our collective prosperity and resilience, but it is also crucial to maintaining peace on the Island of Ireland," said the Portlaoise Municipal District representative.

She continued: "The Irish case demonstrates how cooperation affects local communities within and outside the EU, thus highlighting the urgent need to bolster cross-border relations. This cooperation needs to extend across all social and economic aspects of our lives," she said.

She emphasised the importance of working together in a time of global uncertainty.

"There cannot be a situation where different tariffs are levied for exports from the same island. We hope that the EU trade commissioner will take this into consideration in negotiating with the US," she said.

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Cllr Dwane Stanley also hoped young people will benefit.

"My final point is a plea to those in power for our young people who have been affected by BREXIT. I believe that all young people should be allowed to study, work and live across the EU and in the UK. The youth of today are our future and hopefully by fostering their free movement we can build a future of strong cooperation," she said.

She concluded by wishing everyone success with the EU / UK summit.

The Portlaoise native is involved with the EU through here membership of the Committee of the Regions which is primarily a consultative and advisory body representing local and regional government at EU level and nominees must be elected representatives of regional or local bodies.

She was nominated to the role by Sinn Féin but subsequently left the party.