Sir, – In "Could an Irish referendum delay or even derail Brexit?" (January 26th), you state that whatever agreement is arrived at between EU and UK will have to be agreed by all member states,
Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty states that “It shall be concluded on behalf of the Union by the Council, acting by a qualified majority, after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament.”
The article also states: “The Treaties shall cease to apply to the State in question from the date of entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after the notification referred to in paragraph 2, unless the European Council, in agreement with the Member State concerned, unanimously decides to extend this period.”
This states that UK must leave the EU in two years, unless unanimous agreement is reached to the contrary, so talk of further extended negotiations after two years is a bit fanciful. – Yours, etc,
PAT DOHERTY,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.