The Republic should stage an ‘Irexit’ and leave the “deeply divided EU” along with its closest neighbour, Ray Kinsella said.
The finance professor at University College Dublin has lashed out at the EU, which he described as a “increasingly militarised political behemoth”, and urged Ireland to get out.
He said Ireland should drop its act of unity with the EU and break the taboo of discussing their own potential exit from the bloc.
Prof Kinsella wrote in the Irish Times today: “We need to talk about Irexit. Seriously. If you put your head around the door of any of the innumerable meeting rooms in which all things Brexit are being dissected, the one word that dares not speak its name is Irexit.
“The foolhardiness of the Brits? Yes. How badly organised and divided they are? Of course. How unrealistic their expectations are? Certainly.”
But Ireland’s own exit, he said, appeared altogether off limits for discussion.
He said the unified stance of the EU against the UK was merely a “charade” and urged Ireland to switch sides.
Prof Kinsella continued: “Behind the charade of a ‘unified stance’ on Brexit is a deeply divided EU with competing national agendas which have been whipped into a facile unanimity. The pressure not to break ranks is huge.
“It is a hegemonistic and increasingly militarised political behemoth, controlled by Germany and, to a lesser extent, by a Franco-German identity of interests.”
He said Brexit would lead to Ireland becoming increasingly isolated on the edge of Europe, cut off even from its closest neighbour.
Prof Kinsella concluded: “Brexit means Ireland, which shares a common stance on key issues with the UK, is left marginalised, peripheral and dependant. That reality bears reflecting upon.
“Facing into a post-Brexit scenario it’s clear that we cannot look to Europe to advocate Ireland’s national interests.
“Irexit would restore a measure of control over the development of our resources and the autonomy to develop them, free from the suffocating oversight exercised from the centre.”