Former Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader Bertie Ahern has said he is bitterly disappointed with the Brexit result.
Mr Ahern told Nestalk’s Pat Kenny that the UK’s decision to leave the common market would have a knock on effect for Ireland, Mr Ahern said: “I’ve been trying to think of something positive about the vote but I can’t. I’m bitterly disappointed. “It’s bad news for the economy, it’s bad for Northern Ireland, it’s bad news for the way things could fall out.”
“Every independent international body who made a statement on this in the last five months said this was bad for Europe, bad for Britain and, by extension, bad for us.”
The former Taoiseach also said the UK and Ireland now face a difficult road ahead following the decision. Mr Ahern added: “In the North specifically it will lead to more uncertainty. I can’t get around how it will work for agriculture in the north because they, like us, export most of their produce.”
“Down the road there’s the whole question of tariffs, I know Boris (Johnson) thinks he’ll get everything he wants. Ok, good luck, but that’s not going to happen. There’s a whole lot of imponderables.”
Ahern told the Independent that he will get back into politics if Ireland holds a referendum on EU me membership.