The Union of Students in Ireland has warned that a vote by the UK to leave the European Union will negatively impact graduates and recent emigrants to Britain.

"In many ways, the Brexit vote is more important for the British than their general elections.” Kevin Donoghue, USI president, said.

“If they decide to vote Tory or Labour and don’t like them in power, they can change their mind in five years. In the Brexit vote, they can’t change their mind. The Referendum on Thursday the 23rd June is possibly the most important Referendum for British Identity, which will undoubtedly have an impact on Irish identity."

"The UK is the most popular destination for Irish graduates to emigrate - more than eight per cent of Irish graduates emigrate to the UK for work, and the outcome of the Brexit/Bremain referendum will affect them, as well as the students who wish to study their undergraduates or postgraduates in the UK, or do the Erasmus exchange programme there.”

USI also warned that new border controls between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland could potentially damage years of progress in peace, economic and social relations while Ibec said the return of border controls could disrupt the commercial activity between the north and south of Ireland and undermine the all-island economy.