Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has criticised Sinn Fein for attempting to use European Parliament procedures to refer to Northern Ireland as the ‘North of Ireland’. As MEPs voted on the European Commission’s 2017 Work Programme, Mr Nicholson took the floor to point out that a Sinn Fein amendment did not use the proper title for Northern Ireland, creating a false sense of ambiguity about Northern Ireland’s position.
Speaking after the vote, Mr Nicholson said:
“I am fed up with Sinn Fein using the European Parliament and its procedures to promote a narrative suggesting Northern Ireland is not a legitimate jurisdiction.
“As I said in the chamber today, there is no legal or political entity called the ‘North of Ireland.’ There is no ambiguity about this.
“I want political representatives of all parties and the entire community to be proud of Northern Ireland.
“I note also that in an earlier vote on a separate issue, the leader of Sinn Fein’s political group in the European Parliament corrected their own amendment and asked that “North of Ireland” be changed to “Northern Ireland”. It looks like even Sinn Fein’s own colleagues in the communist group of the Parliament are embarrassed by their refusal to address their constituency by its proper, legal name.”