Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Don’t backdown on the backstop’
SF urge Irish government to stand firm on hard border
SINN FEIN yesterday urged the Irish government to stand firm over the Brexit backstop to prevent a hard border.
Party President Mary Lou Mcdonald was speaking after it emerged Leo Varadkar told Theresa May he was willing to consider a review clause in any plan.
The backstop is a safety net designed to prevent a hard border after the UK leaves the European Union next year.
A spokeswoman for the Irish government said both leaders emphasised their commitment to avoiding a hard border and the need for a legally operable backstop.
She added: “The Prime Minister raised the possibility of a review mechanism for the backstop.
“The Taoiseach indicated an openness to consider proposals for a review, provided it was clear the outcome of any such review could not involve a unilateral decision to end the backstop.”
Ms Mcdonald had warned the backstop “cannot be diluted” and also urged Mr Varadkar to “show leadership” and not “leave behind” the people of Northern Ireland.
She said: “Anything that weakens or softens the Irish government’s position as to the baseline protections that we need is something to be avoided.
“I very much hope and I very much expect the Taoiseach, the government and the Barnier team will remain on track.
“I fully expect the promises and commitments freely made last December to protect Ireland to be honoured, and it is the job of the Taoiseach to ensure that it is so.
“Now is not the moment to cloud issues or muddy the waters, now is the moment for leadership and absolute clarity, and the backstop as agreed last December is the bottom line, it can’t be walked away from, it can’t be diluted down. It is the bottom line and it is what must be delivered if there is to be a agreement.
“The Taoiseach assured people in the North they would never again be left behind.. now is the moment for that pledge to be honoured.” A Downing Street spokesman said: “In order to ensure the backstop, if ever needed, would be temporary, the Prime Minister said there would need to be a mechanism through which the backstop could be brought to an end. She also affirmed the UK’S commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and to avoiding a hard border.”