Ireland Abandons Idea of Brexit Forum on Unionist Opposition

(Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Enda Kenny shelved the idea of creating all-Ireland forum to discuss the implications of the U.K. decision's to exit the European Union, amid opposition from Northern Irish unionist leaders.

Kenny met Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster in Dublin on Monday, with the possibility of developing such a forum on the agenda. Foster told reporters this mechanism wasn't needed because “we can lift the phone to each other.”

Kenny said there was no point in proceeding without support from all the relevant players. Martin McGuinness, deputy first minister and a member of nationalist Sinn Fein, backed the forum laying bare the wider divisions in Northern Ireland over the issue. While Foster's DUP supported Brexit, Sinn Fein opposed it.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Dara Doyle at ddoyle1@bloomberg.net.

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