Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has called for a second EU referendum on Brexit.

A letter will be written to the British Government in the coming days, calling on Prime Minister Theresa May to “reconsider” her earlier dismissal of a second referendum.

The action comes after a special Council meeting on Tuesday evening in Enniskillen Townhall to consider the implications of the Brexit vote on the district.

Fourteen nationalist Councillors voted for SDLP Councillor Brendan Gallagher’s call for a second referendum, while 10 unionist Councillors voted against.

“Ever since the moment that the result was announced, remain campaigners have dedicated themselves to talking down the potential of Northern Ireland outside of the EU. 

“This attitude, and this evening’s debates, achieve nothing and only causes instability and fear within the local community,” DUP Councillor David Mahon stated.

In response, Mr. Gallagher hit out at the DUP, saying: “As the largest party in Northern Ireland you should be showing leadership instead of saying ‘accept the vote’. 
“As unionists, if we leave the EU, they will see their union break up. I propose that there is a legitimate call for a second referendum and that the Council does not accept the vote.” 

He added: “The initial reaction from people my age, those I hang out with, was: ‘Let’s look for a united Ireland.’ Undoubtedly there will be a case for a Border poll.”

Sinn Féin Councillor Barry McNally added: “What is clear is that the majority of people in Fermanagh and Omagh voted to remain (28,200 voted Remain and 19,958 voted Leave). As a local authority we should listen to these people and provide leadership. The Border counties will feel the full force of exit from the EU.”

Mr. Mahon continued: “It’s about time that individual councillors in this Chamber end their scepticism and lived up to the reality that Northern Ireland is leaving the EU. 
“Both our new Prime Minister and her cabinet have made it very clear that despite their earlier reservations, a Brexit means a Brexit. So there will be no second referendum, nor is there a need for an indicative vote in the Assembly.”

UUP Councillor Chris Smyth likened a potential Border between Northern Ireland and the Republic to the one that currently exists between Georgia and Russia. 

He said: “I was in Georgia recently. Georgia has a hard border with Russia. It was an unarmed customs border. There’s some scare mongering from Sinn Féin about what this border will look like.”

“I don’t care what customs look like in Georgia. I care what customs might look like 100 yards from me,” replied Sinn Féin Councillor John Feely, who had instigated the meeting. “It would be madness to say a customs border would be ok,” he continued. “I know farmers who milk their cows in Fermanagh and sell their milk to creameries in Donegal. Will they have to queue for hours at a customs post with perishable goods? What if there is a falling out between the UK and Europe which forces a hardening of the border in the future?"

Rosslea has 10 roads leading into County Monaghan and it is “a community that needs to access both sides of the border,” said Sinn Féin Councillor Brian McCaffrey.

UUP Councillor Bert Wilson reported that “the Ulster Farmer’s Union seem fairly upbeat in that there are new countries looking to do business with the UK such as Australia, Canada and India.” He said he was hopeful that single farm payment will be guaranteed until 2019.

Large employers such as Terex and Fintec in Omagh could easily move from the district as a result of Brexit, warned Independent Councillor Sorcha McAnespy.

UUP Councillor Alex Baird revealed that he voted to Remain and had signed the petition calling for a second referendum. However, he said the vote referred to the UK as a whole and Northern Ireland had to accept the democratic decision taken to Leave the EU.

“The origins of the European Union were very commendable. We were just coming out of two world wars and there was a need for more integration in Europe,” said DUP Councillor Raymond Farrell. “But unfortunately Europe has got out of touch with the people. It’s an undemocratic organisation headed by 28 Commissioners who we can’t even name. The vote has been taken, the working man has spoken and we have to get the best out of this,” he said.

The Council will also write to Agriculture Minister Michelle McIlveen, asking how much EU money comes into this area each year for farmers; Health Minister Michelle O’Neill, asking how much EU money comes into Northern Ireland for health research and how many EU nationals are currently working in the health service; the Irish and British Governments, asking what a new common travel area would look like; and the Taoiseach and the First and deputy First Ministers, asking for clarification on the impact of Brexit on the cross border institutions that were set up under the Good Friday Agreement. Council officials have also been tasked to find statistics on how many Council jobs are funded by EU money and how much EU money comes through FODC to be administered to the local community.