Ireland’s largest accountancy body has called for the UK to remain within the EU and for its members to contribute to an informed debate within their communities.

Chartered Accountants Ireland President Mr Liam Lynch addressing the AGM in Dublin, expressed strong support for the UK voting to remain part of the European Union. He said:  “Our membership is widely spread, with 4,000 members in Northern Ireland, 2,000 in Great Britain, 17,000 in the Republic of Ireland and over 1,000 elsewhere.  This gives us a unique perspective on the current debate.”

“These are informed professionals who use their professional training to look at issues and consider what outcome might, objectively speaking, be preferable.  We therefore conducted a survey where we asked them for their views [Coyne Research, 2016].  In this survey, of those who expressed a preference, 82% in Northern Ireland preferred to remain in the EU, 86% in Great Britain preferred to remain in the EU and 97% in the Republic of Ireland and rest of the EU want the UK to remain in the EU.” He added.

Mr Lynch was elected President of Chartered Accountants Ireland at its 128th Annual General Meeting in Dublin on Friday, 20th May, and takes over as president from Tony Nicholl. 

Shauna Greely, Finance Business Partner with Ulster Bank, based in Dublin was elected Deputy President of Chartered Accountants Ireland. Feargal McCormack, Managing Director of PKF-FPM, a chartered accountancy and business consultancy practice with offices in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland was elected Vice President. 

Source: www.businessworld.ie