Coveney: We are not exploiting the North
BRITAIN is failing to answer the ‘hard questions’ posed by the EU27 about the fate of the Irish border after Brexit, Simon Coveney has said.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs has rejected suggestions that Ireland is exploiting the uncertainty surrounding the North to strengthen the EU’s hand in the negotiations.
Speaking in Belfast yesterday, Mr Coveney hit out at the accusations, saying Ireland’s priority was to protect the peace process.
He said: ‘We are certainly not seeking to exploit anything. We are trying to protect a peace process that so many people from all backgrounds, unionist and nationalist, have worked so hard to create.
‘What’s happening here is we are asking the hard questions and unfortunately we are not getting credible answers, which is why I think some people seem to be uncomfortable.’
On Tuesday, the North’s First Minister Arlene Foster accused the Irish Government of acting ‘recklessly’ in Brexit talks and exaggerating dangers to the peace process.
She told the BBC that the way the Irish Government was ‘referring to Northern Ireland in the negotiations around the border’ was akin to using them as a ‘bargaining chip’.
She said: ‘The peace process has been brought about by the people in Northern Ireland. I’m not saying other people haven’t supported us in that process, but to suggest that our leaving the EU would put that in danger is very careless to say. ’