Brexit WARNING: EU backs Ireland's right to VETO deal over border
IRELAND has been supported by European Union leaders to leave Brexit trade talks if Theresa May does not put through a customs pact avoiding a hard border in Northern Ireland as the thorny issue continues to threaten to bring Britain’s talks with Brussels to a halt.
Ireland's deputy PM grilled over Brexit 'land grab'
This threat was revealed at a meeting in Dublin when the Irish Minister, Simon Coveney, said his government would not allow any delay after June for an outline of an agreement on the Irish border.
The issue of the Irish border has been viewed as the biggest risk to any Brexit deal and has led to political deadlock.
According to Mr Coveney and reported by The Times, the position on Ireland had the backing of Brussels and the UK government was ”fully aware” of the demands.
We don’t want any border down the Irish sea, just like we don’t want any border on the island of Ireland
Mr Coveney said: “We don’t want any border down the Irish sea, just like we don’t want any border on the island of Ireland.
“It’s not in Ireland’s interest if that happens but the current negotiating position of the British government makes a lot of these things a lot more difficult than they need to be.”
Downing Street has been warned by EU officials that the European summit will suspend negotiations until the customs issue is resolved.
The Prime Minister’s chief Brexit negotiator, Oliver Robbins, will be in Brussels today for a meeting with his EU counterparts.
The Brexit Secretary, David Davis, has said that ministers had made a commitment to ensure there would be no physical infrastructure or related checks on the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Dance: Northern Ireland Brexit deal should apply to rest of UK
Speaking to the House of Lords earlier this week, Mr Davis said that resolving the Irish border question could take “years” , but he wants an agreement in place by October.
On Monday, the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier said the border issue needed progress before the European Council summit at the end of June.
Mr Coveney also said on Monday: “We don’t want any barriers east-west either but there is a need for movement in these negotiations and I think the move does need to come now from the British side.”