LEO: UK DEAL CAN BE DONE
...but only if Theresa May sticks to her exit plan
THE Taoiseach yesterday insisted a hard Brexit can be avoided – if British Prime Minister Theresa May sticks to her exit plan.
Leo Varadkar said this was the only way Britain could leave the EU without causing major disruption.
But he told a conference in Dublin: “As things stand, the UK will leave the EU on March 29, six weeks from now, with or without an agreement “I believe we will strike a deal.
“We are firmly of the view that the best and only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal and protect the Good Friday Agreement is to ratify the withdrawal agreement, an agreement made by 28 governments, including the UK.” Mr Varadkar also told the conference, hosted by IDA Ireland and the Financial Times, it was necessary for the peace process to be protected.
He added: “We very much value the backing we have received from political and business leaders all over Europe, who recognise the importance of protecting the Irish peace process and the need to avoid the hard border on the island of Ireland – something much more important than money and jobs.”
The Taoiseach said at a time when many countries were trying to go back to a world that never existed this was not the approach of the Irish people.
He added: “When attitudes to global free trade and multinationalism are hardening in many parts of the world, Ireland is holding firm to our values.”
At the same conference Central Bank Governor Philip Lane said a no-deal Brexit would have a “very severe” effect on Ireland. He added: “This would be immediately disruptive across the economy.”