Coveney in Belfast to meet with businesses

where we agree, unpick the areas where we disagree and make further progress on the whole range of issues.”

He said this will “require flexibility and imagination from both sides”, adding: “And we are ready to roll up our sleeves and get down to work again once more.”

Ahead of the talks, Mr Davis was believed to be frustrated at Mr Barnier’s insistence that progress must be made on fixing the UK’s ‘divorce’ bill before moving on to talks on future trade.

He believes a series of papers produced by his department for exiting the EU over the past fortnight have proved that the two issues are inextricably linked.

Meanwhile, Brussels is understood to be infuriated by Britain’s refusal even to spell out how it thinks its liabilities to the EU should be calculated, let alone put a figure on the final bill, variously estimated at between £50bn and £80bn.

Mr Davis insisted the British position papers were sufficiently detailed, stating: “They are the products of hard work and detailed thinking that has been going on behind the scenes not just in the last few weeks, but for the last 12 months, and should form the basis of what I hope will be a constructive week of talks.”

The third round of withdrawal talks began after Labour’s decision to promise to keep the UK in the single market and customs union after March 2019.

Northern Ireland issues are likely to be discussed tomorrow. IRISH Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney will be in Belfast today to hear views on Brexit from members of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce.

He met with academics from Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University last night, describing them as extending a “valuable input” to the Irish Government’s consultations.

Mr Coveney said he will today be seeking views from the Chamber of Commerce “on the serious issues that arise for the island of Ireland, as the UK negotiates its departure from the EU”.

“The Government is maintaining its dialogue with business and civil society across the island as we work to deal with Brexit, including through the ongoing EU-UK negotiations,” he added.

“I will be urging the Chamber to continue to make their voices heard with other political leaders at this critical time. Our current border arrangement has been a vital part of our shared peace and prosperity, and the best way to ensure we preserve the status quo.”