Prime Minister David Cameron announces a public vote will decide if Britain will stay in or opt out of the European Union.
Speaking in Downing Street, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced a referendum will be held on 23 June to decide if the United Kingdom will stay in the European Union.
We are approaching one of the biggest decisions this country will face in our lifetimes.
Following negotiations with the European Union, the prime minister agreed reforms to UK membership should they decide to stay. These reforms largely centred around migration and include a restriction of payments to benefits to EU migrants during their first four years of employment in the UK.
David Cameron is advocating for the United Kingdom remaining in the European Union under the reformed Brussels agreement. A majority of his colleagues also support remaining in a reformed EU. Five ministers are campaigning to leave.
Responding to the announcement, Taoiseach Enda Kenny praised the EU negotiations and said that all members will gain from the decision. Those advocating to leave the EU say that the deal struck changes nothing. Nigel Farage MEP and UKIP leader describes the EU as a failure.
The British electorate will decide on the outcome of the referendum in June.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 20 February 2016. The reporter is Fiona Mitchell.
