Irexit?
 

A new political party launches in Ireland today. Calling itself the Irexit Freedom Party, it is led by Hermann Kelly, an ally of Nigel Farage.

Support for the EU in Ireland is amongst the strongest of all its member states. Ireland is a net benefactor of the EU, so basically reliant on British tax payers amongst others! Despite having in the past voted against further European integration that threatened Irelands military neutrality, there is no solid Eurosceptic political movement in the Republic.

Despite the UK governments declared committment to leaving the EU, British soldiers of the 3rd Parachute Regiment this week were seen disembarking in Bosnia Herzegovinia for war games, not wearing British army uniforms, but uniforms bearing the yellow stars of the EU flag.

Will the Irish begin to see European Commissions commitment to ever closer union as a threat to its own military neutrality? This certainly seems possible under the presidency of Leo Varadkar, who in the Brexit process has acted fully in defence of EU principles, regardless of the cost in terms of economy and peace and security to the people on the island of Ireland as a whole.

Another question occurs. If, as it should since that is what the UK voted to do, Britain leaves the EU and begins to trade with the EU under WTO terms, will Ireland see the benefits and begin to questions its own membership of the EU?