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The British Government\u2019s position on Brexit and Northern Ireland is causing \u201cgreat difficulty\u201d in reaching a deal, Leo Varadkar has said.<\/p>\nThe British Government\u2019s position on Brexit and Northern Ireland is causing \u201cgreat difficulty\u201d in reaching a deal, Leo Varadkar has said.<\/p>\n
He also said any solution on the border issue must have the backing of the people in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
The Taoiseach, addressing questions about a series of anonymous briefings from within Downing Street, said there has not been any changes to the EU\u2019s negotiating position.<\/p>\n
It emerged earlier this week that in an anonymous briefing sent to The Spectator, a Downing Street official revealed how the British Government plans to avoid the Benn Act and how talks with the EU will break down leading to a no-deal exit.<\/p>\n
Speaking in the D\u00e1il, Mr Varadkar said: \u201cI don\u2019t think much of an anonymous briefing whether they come from Downing Street or if they come from my own ranks, quite frankly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere hasn\u2019t been any change to the EU negotiating position, we signed our guidelines to the Council meetings, and they haven\u2019t changed and they certainly cannot change until the summit next week.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as the Irish Government is concerned, we do want to deal, we\u2019re willing to work hard to get a deal, to work until the last moment to get a deal, but certainly not at any cost.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are absolutely open to proposals that will take into account the democratic wishes and the views of the people of Northern Ireland in relation to consent and relation to democracy.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we need to make sure that any such arrangements are workable. It is a sad fact that the Northern Ireland Assembly hasn\u2019t met for three years, and has only met for about half the time that\u2019s been in existence.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also need to bear in mind that the people of Northern Ireland voted by a clear majority to remain in the European Union, that the people of Northern Ireland, when asked, said they were in favor of the backstop that was negotiated with Prime Minister (Theresa) May\u2019s government.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny solution that we come to, and any solution that I can recommend to this House, has to have support from the people of Northern Ireland, and the people of Northern Ireland have given their views on this, that they don\u2019t want to leave the European Union, that they would accept the backstop, that they don\u2019t support proposals currently on the table from the British Government.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar said part of the difficulty is the UK\u2019s position that Northern Ireland must leave the EU customs union.<\/p>\n
He claimed it has adopted this position whether the people of Northern Ireland \u201clike it or not\u201d.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThat creates huge difficulties for us because we want there to be a deal that respects the wishes of the people of Northern Ireland, and indeed the people in this Republic too.\u201d<\/p>\n