Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has said the European Union is “better with Britain in it”, when asked about British prime minister David Cameron’s pledge to hold a referendum on membership if the Conservatives win the next election.
Mr Gilmore stressed Ireland’s close connection with Britain during a press conference this morning following his meeting with Microsoft founder Bill Gates.
“The EU is better with Britain in it and Britain is better with being in the EU,” he said.
“We want to see Britain as a fully engaged member of the European Union. It is important our focus doesn’t get deflected into debate about who is in or who is out.”
He said the focus of the debate should be on what was needed in order to get growth within the EU.
Youth unemployment was a particular problem, he said. Whether a young person was unemployed in “Glasgow, Genoa or Galway”, they needed to see the prospect of getting a job in future.