Brexit and Socio-Economic Rights in Northern Ireland

Video: Rory O'Connell - Socio-economic rights

The protection of socio-economic rights has featured prominently in the debates regarding the potential impact of Brexit. As well as broader human rights issues, a number of important protections for socio-economic rights come from EU law.

It remains to be seen to what extent these will continue once the UK has left the EU. Two of the key areas of concern relating to N. Ireland are the economic impact and employment rights. It is well recognised that the rural communities of N. Ireland in particular are going to be the hardest hit regions of the UK.

These concerns are compounded when the implications of Brexit for cross-border workers, migrant workers, and future trade agreements are considered.