Irish question still looms over Brexit

Theresa May has not clarified how the UK will honour its “special responsibility” for the consequences of Brexit for Ireland, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said.

After Brexit the UK’s only land border with an EU state will be that on the island of Ireland and it is one of the first issues up for negotiation between the UK and Europe before they can move on to talks about future trade relations.

The Prime Minister said: “We and the EU have committed to protecting the Belfast Agreement and the Common Travel Area and, looking ahead, we have both stated explicitly that we will not accept any physical infrastructure at the border.”

Ireland’s Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also called for more detail on how a transition period might work after the UK leaves the Union in 2019, while Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said Mrs May delivered nothing but the same old story.

However, the leader of the Prime Minister’s DUP allies, Arlene Foster, claimed she had outlined a positive vision for the future.

Mr Barnier said: “Today’s speech does not clarify how the UK intends to honour its special responsibility for the consequences of its withdrawal for Ireland. Our objective is to preserve the Good Friday Agreement in all its dimensions, as well as the integrity of the Single Market and the Customs Union.”

Mr Varadkar, who leads Ireland’s coalition government and largest party Fine Gael, said his British counterpart’s speech was a “genuine effort” to make progress.

He is meeting Mrs May on Monday and told Irish broadcaster RTE: “I think I would give the speech a cautious welcome.”

Mrs Foster said: “A strong signal has been sent in her speech, that although we are leaving the EU we still want to have very positive relationships with our nearest neighbours.”

However, Sinn Fein counterpart, Gerry Adams, said “It was nothing but the same old story.

“The Irish government should oppose any move toward the next phase of negotiations on trade at the October EU summit.”