Taoiseach hits out at ‘British Establishment’ in business speech

NORTHERN Ireland is not well-prepared for a no-deal Brexit in areas such as trade and customs, auditors have said.

The ability to plan is also “severely constrained” amid uncertainty surrounding the border, migration and the repatriation of powers from Brussels, comptroller and auditor general of the Northern Ireland Audit Office Kieran Donnelly said.

Those responsibilities fall to Westminster in the form of “reserved” powers which were never devolved to Stormont.

Extensive preparations have been made by civil servants here in areas which did come under the remit of the former powersharing government at Stormont, the review said.

It warned: “In respect of those areas where policy is reserved, Northern Ireland is not well prepared for leaving the EU without a deal. The Civil Service remains engaged with the UK Government to ensure that Northern Ireland’s interests are recognised in the negotiations, although without a functioning Executive its influence has undoubtedly been limited.”

It added: “Negotiations between the EU and the UK are on-going and in the absence of an agreed exit deal, the way SOME elements of the British Establishment “can’t believe we won’t fall into line” on Brexit, the Taoiseach has said.

Leo Varadkar was speaking ahead of a visit to Londonderry today, where he will also make a symbolic visit to the headquarters of the Apprentice Boys of Derry.

While accepting that Anglo-Irish relations are “strained”, Mr Varadkar risked heightening tensions further ahead on the key issues is far from clear. The UK Government’s position remains that it will achieve a deal that will mitigate these risks as far as is possible. However, time is running short.

“The lack of clarity so far on the shape of an exit deal and a clear way forward inevitably means that Northern Ireland is with his comments in front of more than 1,000 business leaders.

“You do come across people in the British Establishment who can’t believe we won’t fall into line. They thought ‘Sure you’ll be leaving too, won’t you?’

“The fact that we aren’t and that we have stood up for ourselves has made some of them quite annoyed — but so be it,” the Taoiseach said.

He added: “You’d swear we created the problem. Obviously

we didn’t, it’s one of other limited in terms of the practical preparations it can make.

“It is not fully ready, in operational terms, for a no-deal exit. There are also concerns that whatever the outcome, Northern Ireland’s capacity to implement any changes necessary may be constrained given the short time available.” people’s making.” Mr Varadkar’s comments will be closely observed by members of Theresa May’s Conservative Party who have varied views on how she should deal with the border question.

The Taoiseach said “individual personal relationship, minister to minister, Prime Minister to Taoiseach, are actually very good because we have to talk so frequently now”. But in a “wider sense” they are “strained”.

“Brexit has created a disturbance in the force,” he added.

A UK Government spokeswoman said: “The Government is resolute in our commitments to Northern Ireland. This includes no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland and any physical infrastructure or related checks and controls. It remains the responsibility of the Government to continue preparations for the full range of potential outcomes, including no deal.

“As we do, and as decisions are made, we will take full account of the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland.”

Sinn Fein’s Brexit spokesman Mairtin O Muilleoir said: “This report underlines the need for the British Government to honour its commitment to a backstop. A backstop will help protect us from the economic ruin the DUP and the Tories are seeking to impose.”

SDLP economy spokesman Daniel McCrossan said Brexiters need to “swallow a dose of reality about the impact Brexit will have on our already struggling economy”.