US speaker says Brexit can’t mean hard border

US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi has said that Brexit must not result in the return of a hard border.

The senior Democrat made the remarks in a speech to members of the Irish parliament yesterday afternoon as part of the Dail’s centenary commemorations.

TDS, senators and former politicians – as well as U2 singer Bono – were in attendance to hear Ms Pelosi’s address.

Ms Pelosi said that Brexit must not undermine or challenge the Good Friday Agreement or allow the return of a hard border.

She added that politicians in the US stand with Ireland as it faces challenges posed by Brexit.

“We must ensure nothing happens in the Brexit discussion that threatens the Good Friday accord,” she said.

“If the Brexit deal undermines the accord there will be no chance of a US-UK trade agreement.”

Ms Pelosi is part of a delegation of high-ranking US politicians on a two-day fact-finding mission to the country.

The congressional group includes several members of the Friends of Ireland caucus, including congressman Richie Neal.

Ms Pelosi was invited to speak in Leinster House by Ceann Comhairle (speaker) Sean O Fearghail.

Ms Pelosi said two decades of peace cannot be jeopardised by the Brexit process: “We treasure the Good Friday accord.”