Varadkar: Commons vote no reason to panic
THE Taoiseach has insisted that parliamentary amendments to the UK Government’s Brexit plans aren’t a reason for Dublin to panic.
Leo Varadkar last night said “instability and turmoil” in London wasn’t cause for his government to change its position regarding the border.
He was speaking after Irish Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said House of Commons amendments to the UK Customs Bill cast “serious doubt” over Theresa May’s Brexit blueprint.
Monday night’s vote means there will definitely be no border down the Irish Sea. Dublin is insisting there can be no Brexit deal without a backstop to prevent a hard border. The Taoise- ach said a deal was still possible, but his government will “step up our preparations for a no-deal scenario”.
Mr Varadkar said developments at Westminster “shouldn’t give us cause for panic, and certainly shouldn’t give us any reason to change our position”.
Although a no deal scenario was unlikely, he said preparations were still essential because “we can’t make assumptions that the Withdrawal Agreement will get through Westminster”.
He told RTE: “It’s not evident, or not obvious, that the government of Britain has the majority for any form of Brexit, quite frankly.”
A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney added: “It is fully accepted and understood there can be no withdrawal agreement without a legally operable backstop ensuring that there will be no hard border.”
Sinn Fein’s vice-president Michelle O’Neill accused the UK Government of neglecting Northern Ireland.
“What we saw (on Monday) was more debacle and chaos in the Tory party. In-fighting continues as we approach a critical time in Brexit negotiations,” she said. “Theresa May is trying to placate the hardline Brexiteers and the DUP, who are propping her up.”
But DUP MP Sammy Wilson said his party was proud to have delivered its support in crucial parliamentary votes to “ensure the UK will have a stronger hand in negotiations with the EU”. He said: “We are particu-
❝ It’s not evident the government has majority for any form of Brexit