TAOISEACH:
Brexit back stop is no1 priority
BREXIT SHOWDOWN: TAOISEACH TALKS TOUGH
LEO Varadkar yesterday urged Theresa May to stick to her word on the Brexit backstop and said: It’s a matter of trust.
The Taoiseach and his British counterpart had struck a deal in December that was to ensure there would not be a hard border.
And, at a special Brexit meeting of EU leaders ahead of today’s official Summit, Mr Varadkar insisted the backstop was his No1 priority.
He added: “From our point of view, our position is as it has been from the very start there must be a legally operable backstop which will ensure us that there will be no hard border on the island of Ireland.
“And as the European Union and UK agreed in writing back in March, it must apply unless and until... we can’t have an expiry date, it can only be temporary unless and until we have an alternative agreement that also ensures us that there will be no hard border on the island of Ireland.
“That’s what we agreed in writing with the European Union and the United Kingdom back in March so this is not just an issue of substance, it’s also an issue of trust.”
The backstop gives legal effect to the agreement between the British
and Irish governments that we will never see the return of a hard border on the island as a result of Brexit.
European leaders backed Ireland 100% in this at the key meetings in Brussels last night.
However, it is now unlikely a deal will be agreed this week and a further summit next month or in December is needed to thrash out the details.
Mrs May got a half-hour slot before the supper meeting to pitch her Brexit case to the EU heads of state.
She is not allowed into the exclusive dinner club any more after Britain voted to leave the EU two years ago.
Mr Varadkar also held a bilateral with Mrs May. And he said he would accept new ideas from the British at the meetings this week.
The Taoiseach added: “Fresh thinking is always welcome but time is now running out and you know we’ve always been abundantly clear about what our objectives are.
“They’ve been the same since the referendum happened and that is there should be a withdrawal agreement that allows for an orderly exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
“There should be a transition period so that businesses and individuals can prepare for the changes that will take place at the end of that transition period.
“We need to protect citizens’ rights. We need there to be a financial settlement and we also need a legally binding assurance that there won’t be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and that’s what we have to have.”
He also indicated he would be open to the idea of a third transition year for the UK to organise its exit in addition to the two already been agreed.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin challenged Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Brussels yesterday to join him in a promise not to trigger a General Election before January 21 – the date Westminster is set to ratify Article 50 of the Brexit treaty. And Mr Varadkar said he could not give this assurance but insisted he does not want an election until summer 2020.
He told the Irish Mirror: “I have a difficulty with that suggestion. I don’t think an Irish Government, or an Irish parliament, should ever fall on the basis of a vote that happens in a British parliament – or any other foreign parliament for that matter.
“I think that could potentially even play into the hands of hardline Brexiteers, or people who would oppose a deal that Prime Minister May might put to parliament. Imagine a situation whereby those opposing a deal would be able to say that, as a result of a vote in the House of Commons, not only would that deal be defeated, they would also bring down the Irish Government.
“So, I’m not sure if Deputy Martin really thought that one through – I’m sure his intentions were very decent but he probably didn’t think that through strategically.”
The Irish Mirror then asked if he could rule out an election before Christmas, and he couldn’t. He added: “I’m not planning an election. You
know, I put forward my proposals to Fianna Fail on August 31, that we agree that there be no election until the summer of 2020, and I set out in detail what I believe a Government could achieve for the people between now and then.
“So, we set out our position and Fianna Fail have set out their position.
“We’ve agreed to open talks on a no-precondition basis and those talks will start next week. There will be a Fine Gael delegation of four and it will be headed up by Tanaiste and deputy leader, Simon Coveney.”
Mr Martin set out his challenge earlier in the day. He said: “If the British parliament does not succeed in ratifying a deal, there would be a crisis at that point for our country. So, at very least, I’m looking for agreement from Leo Varadkar not to have any election before that decision is taken by the British parliament.”
I don’t think government should ever fall on vote in a British parliament
LEO VARADKAR BRUSSELS YESTERDAY