DUBLIN, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Irish Prime Minister (or Taoiseach) Enda Kenny said on Friday there would be no immediate change to the free flow of people, goods and services between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.
"I want to assure the Irish public that we have prepared to the greatest extent possible for this eventuality," Kenny said in a statement following the historic Brexit vote to leave the European Union.
According to final results, around 17.4 million people voted for Brexit while 16.1 million others chose to to stay in the bloc. The turnout at the referendum was 72.2 percent.
But the withdrawal process would not start immediately and would take a long time, British media reported. The final results showed Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to stay in the EU, while Wales and England were in favor of leaving.
The Irish prime minister said his government had previously set out its main concerns in the event of a Brexit. "These relate to the potential impacts for trade and the economy, for Northern Ireland, for the common travel area and for the European Union itself," he said.
He also said his government had engaged in detailed contingency planning for the possibility of this result.
"Today at government, we agreed to publish a summary of the key actions we will now take to address the contingencies arising from the UK's decision. Our primary objective remains to protect and advance this country's interests," Kenny said.
He stressed Ireland was a strong, open and competitive economy, saying the ongoing economic recovery was a testament to Ireland's resilience.
"We will continue to implement policies that prioritize economic stability, growth and job creation," Kenny said.
He promised any short-term market volatility would be carefully managed and that his government would continue to monitor and assess developments.
Regarding the implications of this vote for Northern Ireland and for relations between the North and South on the island, Kenny said these would require careful consideration.
"These will be a particular priority for the Irish government," he said.
"We will approach these issues in the same spirit of partnership that has underpinned the peace process and has transformed relationships on this island since the Good Friday Agreement," he added.
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement, signed on April 10, 1998, was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process of the 1990s.
