Minister hopes Brexit deal can still be done
Optimism ahead of Westminster vote PM banking on EU promises as Labour plans ‘tax block’
THE Culture Minister yesterday said she remains hopeful a deal can be struck between the British government and the EU.
Josepha Madigan added it is difficult to anticipate what will happen when MPS go to vote on the Withdrawal Agreement at Westminster next week.
Theresa May will increase her efforts this week to win over her Brexit critics and seek fresh guarantees from Brussels ahead of the crunch vote on her deal.
Ms Madigan said the British Prime Minister’s main priority is to secure enough support for her agreement.
She added: “I think from listening to her comments yesterday she is certainly going to endeavour to do that and that’s her main priority at the moment but I think we have to allow the UK Parliament to do it themselves.
“I don’t think it’s going to be helpful for me to comment on how they should do that but obviously we are hopeful they will.”
The Culture Minister added she “didn’t know” if there will be a hard Brexit.
She said: “I would remain hopeful that a deal can be struck and we hope that Theresa May will get this deal through her THERESA May is pinning her hopes on EU chiefs granting concessions on Brexit before next week’s crunch vote.
Downing Street insiders hinted the PM believed she could get a written guarantee that Brussels would commit to a start date for the future relationship.
EU officials suggested they were Parliament and there will be a Withdrawal Agreement and then a future relationship can be ironed out and there will be no hard border.” She added the Government has contingency plans in place for a no-deal Brexit while ministers will be updating Cabinet every two weeks on their preparation for a chaotic Brexit.
Meanwhile, Ms Madigan also defended her comments after she advised aspiring female politicians who want to run for office to “get a good prepared to help by offering an “exchange of letters” confirming their plan for trade talks to conclude by 2021.
But they warned it was unlikely to be a legally binding deadline, meaning it probably will not win over sceptical Tory MPS.
Mrs May yesterday insisted work was still ongoing with the EU husband”. She said: “Get good childcare, get a good husband, have the confidence and don’t over-think it.”
However, Fianna Fail TD Anne Rabbitte said women don’t need a husband to succeed in politics.
Ms Madigan defended her remarks saying she was paying tribute to her husband.
She said: “When you’re a politician whatever family support you have is going to be crucial,
“When you have school runs and extra-curricular activities and if you are based at Leinster House, I would have found it very difficult in the absence of his support and that was the point I am making.” to obtain the “further assurances” she needs to get her deal through the Commons.
She said the Government would also be looking at what it could do to give MPS more say over the future relationship.
Labour is to support an amendment that could block taxation powers unless a no-deal Brexit is
Convoy on A256 yesterday
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taken off the table. Jeremy Corbyn called the PM’S plans a “Frankenstein’s monster of a deal” and accused her of being prepared to “push our whole economy off a cliff edge”.
The Government has said it will not pay the €72 fee for its employees who are EU citizens to seek settled status in Britain.