Up to Britain! Ireland wades in warning Boris’ Brexit bill legislation WILL spark no deal
IRELAND has warned Boris Johnson if the UK's Finance Bill deliberately breaches the Withdrawal Agreement struck with the European Union last year and breaks international law, then it will be taken as a clear signal London does not want a Brexit trade deal with the bloc.
Foreign Minister Simon Coveney warned in a Twitter post "no deal of this complexity is concluded without at least a basic level of trust and goodwill". He tweeted: "A clear message to London for some time; a 2nd piece of legislation deliberately breaching the withdrawal agreement and international law, will be taken as a signal that the U.K. doesn't want a deal. No deal of this complexity is concluded without at least a basic level of trust and goodwill! Over to you Britain."
Mr Coveney issued the warning after the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told EU ambassadors if the forthcoming UK Finance Bill contains clauses which break international law, then Brexit talks between the two sides would be thrust into "crisis".
RTE Europe Editor Tony Connelly also reported there would also be a "breakdown in trust" between the EU and UK.
He tweeted: "The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has told EU ambassadors that if the UK Finance Bill, expected next week, contains clauses that breach international law [ie, that breach the NI Protocol] then the Brexit talks will be "in crisis" and there will be a breakdown in trust.
"Mr Barnier made the remarks at the end of a briefing of member states via video link this morning, acc to two sources."
Next week, the UK will table its Finance Bill but the Government risks more fury as the proposed legislation could contain controversial clauses that would override the Withdrawal Agreement.
The Bill was expected to include several clauses almost identical to the measures in the Internal Market Bill, which was comprehensively rejected by peers in the House of Lords last month.
The proposed legislation would have given a minister the power to decide which goods being exported from Britain to Northern Ireland should be deemed “at risk” of entering the Republic of Ireland.
Any goods deemed "at risk" would likely have tariffs imposed on them, but the tax would be rdeemable provided it could be proven the item stayed in Northern Ireland.
However, the proposed clauses to override the Withdrawal Agreement are expected to be axed should the UK and EU agree a trade deal beforehand.
Brussels has warned it will immediately walk away from trade talks if Downing Street presses ahead with the legislation.
A senior EU source told The Guardian: “If it violates the withdrawal agreement, it’s curtains, no deal."
But Number 10 insiders insisted the content of the Finance Bill depends on progress in the crunch trade talks between the UK and EU.
They said if an agreement can be struck between the two sides this week, the clauses are “pretty unlikely if we are in a world of a trade deal”.
The latest row comes after Downing Street insisted it would be standing by clauses in its Internal Market Bill that would breach the Withdrawal Agreement struck with the EU last year.
The proposed legislation is expected to return to the House of Commons next week after being overwhelmingly rejected by peers in the House of Lords last month.
A spokesman for Boris Johnson said: "Our position on the clauses remains unchanged.
"We set out the rationale for why we needed the clauses in order to provide a legal safety net and to protect the integrity of the UK's internal market."
Earlier on Wednesday, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin told parliament that stalled Brexit talks have got to a point where the EU now must proceed with preparations for a potential no-deal outcome.
He said: "We are in the final critical phases.
"I've every confidence that our chief negotiator Michel Barnier will use every best endeavour and every opportunity this week to try and deliver a deal.
"One month out from the end of transition, we have reached a point in time where prudence demands we must proceed with preparations for European Union contingency measures in case of no deal.
"I expect to see this being discussed in Brussels in the coming week and in advance of the December European Council."