DUP shoot down Brexit border deal
»»Foster halts agreement on boundary »»taoiseach ‘surprised and disappointed’ »»government may veto next stage of talks
UNIONISTS scuppered an historic agreement yesterday which could have ensured no return to a hard border after Brexit.
Leo Varadkar believed our Government had clinched a deal with the British Prime Minister but the hardline DUP forced Theresa May to pull out.
The Taoiseach said he was “surprised and disappointed” no deal has been agreed after believing one had been sealed.
It emerged a deal between the EU and UK had been signed off on yesterday morning.
But around lunchtime DUP leader Arlene Foster rang Mrs May warning her she would withdraw her party’s support for the Tories if the Prime Minster pushed ahead with the agreement.
The Government may now be forced to use its veto which will block the UK moving to the next stage of Brexit negotiations.
He said representatives of the UK government and EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier informed Irish negotiators a form of words had been found which might satisfy the Ireland’s demand for a “cast-iron guarantee” there would be no hard border with the North after Brexit.
Refusing to be drawn on the DUP’S role in destroying the agreement a clearly disappointed Taoiseach said he was convinced a deal had been reached.
He added: “The Irish negotiating team received confirmation from the British government and the Barnier taskforce the United Kingdom had agreed a text on the border that met our concerns.
“This text would form a part of the broader EU/UK agreement on phase one [of the Brexit negotiations] and allow us all to move on to phase two.”
Mr Varadkar said he had confirmed Ireland’s agreement to the text to both Mr Juncker and European Council president Donald Tusk.
He added: “I am surprised and disappointed that the British government now appears not to be in a position to conclude what was agreed earlier today.
“I accept the Prime Minister has asked for more time, and I know that she faces many challenges and I acknowledge that she is negotiating in good faith.
“But my position and that of the Irish Government is unequivocal and is supported by all the parties in Dail Eireann and I believe the majority of people on these islands.
GUARANTEES
“Ireland wants to proceed to phase two – it’s very much in our interests to do so.
“However we cannot agree to do this unless we have firm guarantees that there will not be a hard border in Ireland under any circumstances.”
After the break-up of talks, Mr Juncker had confirmed “Ireland’s position remains Europe’s position”, with Mr Varadkar, adding: “I still hope this matter can be concluded in the coming days, as was agreed.”
The Taoiseach said that the DUP does not represent the majority of people in the North, and the party should not forget the majority voted to remain in the EU.
As reports emerged that a deal had been reached the value of sterling rose sharply but the news didn’t go down well with the DUP. It claims the
so-called “regulatory alignment” which was part of the agreement would mean Northern Ireland being subjected to different rules from the rest of the UK.
The DUP, which props up Mrs May’s minority government in the House of Commons, has previously warned it could withdraw its support in Westminster if a deal is proposed which threatens the integrity of the United Kingdom.
Leader Arlene Foster said: “We have been very clear. Northern Ireland must leave the EU on the same terms as the rest of the United Kingdom.
“We will not accept any form of regulatory divergence which separates Northern Ireland economically or politically from the rest of the United Kingdom.”
To complicate the issue further the Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon claimed there was “no good reason” Scotland cannot “effectively” stay in the single market if the North was getting special treatment. She said: “While I welcome the proposed commitment for Ireland and Northern Ireland – and while the particular circumstances in Scotland are distinct and separate from those in Ireland – today’s developments show very clearly that if one part of UK can retain regulatory alignment with the EU and effectively stay in the single market, there is no good practical reason why others cannot do the same.
“Indeed, any special status for Northern Ireland would make a similar solution for Scotland even more vital.
“For Scotland to find itself outside the single market, while Northern Ireland effectively stays in would place us at a double disadvantage when it comes to jobs and investment.”