They’re listening now
Coveney claims new hardline policy on the border ‘is working’
SIMON Coveney has claimed that the British government expected Ireland to back down under pressure on the border in Brexit discussions.
The border is a sticking point in the talks, with Ireland and the other EU states refusing to allow negotiations progress to Phase Two until the UK makes major concessions ahead of the December 15 deadline.
Critics have warned that the UK is effectively being told to hand over the North to the EU,with many of its institutions then being regulated from Dublin. They argue this is something which is a political impossibility for any British Prime Minister.
Mr Coveney’s aggressive strategy is also a significant departure from the policy adopted by Enda Kenny as Taoiseach.Mr Kenny accepted that a border might have to exist but sought ways to work with the UK to make it as invisible as possible.
However the new Foreign Affairs Minister suggested that the crisis in the talks had in fact arisen because ‘some people’ may not have been listening to Ireland’s demands the ‘first time, the second time, the third time or the tenth time’. Moreover, he claimed that they were certainly listening now.
Appearing before the Oireachtas committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement yesterday, Mr Coveney said Ireland’s hardline stance had forced London to listen.
He said: ‘I think the Taoiseach and I, in particular, have been very clear with regards to what we’re asking for.
‘That hasn’t changed for months. What has changed perhaps, is the expectation that Ireland, maybe when we came under a little bit of pressure, we might back off in terms of that ask, to a certain extent. Or accept that be that it would be deferred to Phase Two of discussions. Some people seem surprised that’s not happening.
‘Maybe they weren’t listening when we told them the first time, or the second time, or the third time or the tenth time.
‘They’re listening now, and that’s because we have been consistently firm, and it’s not just Ireland taking that position.’