Dublin repeats demands, DUP reacts

DUBLIN: Ireland repeated yesterday its demand for British guarantees over the post-Brexit border as EU President Donald Tusk sought a breakthrough on the key sticking point in the withdrawal negotiations, reports AFP.

Tusk was due to meet with Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in Dublin on Friday afternoon, ahead of a Monday deadline by which the EU has demanded progress if Brexit talks with Britain are to move forward. All sides agree there should be no return to physical border checks between Ireland and British-controlled Northern Ireland after Brexit, which might upset the fragile peace in the region.

But Dublin's demand for written guarantees from Britain has proved an obstacle to an early agreement, threatening to delay the wider negotiations and causing tensions with London.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Tusk's visit, Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said his government was being "positive", but added: "We're not there yet."

Dublin wants "reassurance" that regulations on issues such as food safety and animal welfare would be maintained in Northern Ireland, to avoid damaging cross-border trade once Britain leaves the EU's single market and customs union. "We can't be asked here to leap into the dark by opening up a phase two discussion in the hope that these issues might be resolved," Coveney told BBC radio. A British newspaper reported on Thursday that the two sides were close to a deal that would avoid regulatory divergence between Ireland and Northern Ireland, even if the rest of Britain moved away from EU rules.

 

Dublin repeats demands, DUP reacts

DUBLIN: Ireland repeated yesterday its demand for British guarantees over the post-Brexit border as EU President Donald Tusk sought a breakthrough on the key sticking point in the withdrawal negotiations, reports AFP. Tusk was due to meet with Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in Dublin on Friday afternoon, ahead of a Monday deadline by which the EU has demanded progress if Brexit talks with Britain are to move forward. All sides agree there should be no return to physical border checks between Ireland and British-controlled Northern Ireland after Brexit, which might upset the fragile peace in the region. But Dublins demand for written guarantees from Britain has proved an obstacle to an early agreement, threatening to delay the wider negotiations and causing tensions with London. Speaking to reporters ahead of Tusks visit, Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said his government was being positive, but added: Were not there yet. Dublin wants reassurance that regulations on issues such as food safety and animal welfare would be maintained in Northern Ireland, to avoid damaging cross-border trade once Britain leaves the EUs single market and customs union. We cant be asked here to leap into the dark by opening up a phase two discussion in the hope that these issues might be resolved, Coveney told BBC radio. A British newspaper reported on Thursday that the two sides were close to a deal that would avoid regulatory divergence between Ireland and Northern Ireland, even if the rest of Britain moved away from EU rules.