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Any \u201cbare bones\u201d trade agreement between the EU and UK would be less than satisfactory, Miche\u00e1l Martin said.<\/p>\nAny \u201cbare bones\u201d trade agreement between the EU and UK would be less than satisfactory, Miche\u00e1l Martin said.<\/p>\n
He warned another dangerous hard Brexit cliff-edge could be beckoning next year as he voiced concern about UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson\u2019s approach to the pending negotiations.<\/p>\n
Mr Martin, the leader of the Opposition, said: \u201cHe may be contemplating a sort of a bare bones type of trade agreement that\u2019s less than satisfactory.<\/p>\n
“Most experts on trade believe it’s not possible to negotiate a comprehensive trade agreement between the UK and Europe in the short time, you know, in one year<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I think there are concerns in terms of that approach.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Martin said he is worried about the British Government\u2019s legislative plans to make it illegal to extend the transition period beyond the end of 2020, even if a trade deal is not ready by then.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is unnecessary. I think it\u2019s dangerous,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd because you\u2019re back into your cliff-edge at the end of the year, potentially, and most experts on trade believe it\u2019s not possible to negotiate a comprehensive trade agreement between the UK and Europe in the short time, you know, in one year.\u201d<\/p>\n
When he was mayor of London Mr Johnson had a centrist platform and has displayed the capacity to change his position, the Fianna F\u00e1il leader added.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cOverall, I watched his performance with the G7. That was interesting.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd he didn\u2019t pander to Donald Trump. He took the European position religiously on climate change, on free trade, multilateral organisational rules.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was very interesting, and probably suggests that he may want to get back on to steadier ground once the Brexit issues are dealt with.\u201d<\/p>\n
He expressed concern that the \u201cfamilial relationship\u201d Britain and Ireland has developed as joint members of the European Union, with civil servants and politicians becoming known to each other on first name terms, would disappear.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s why I\u2019ve suggested that we need a new structure, political structure between Britain and Ireland in terms of something like the Nordic Council, where EU and non-EU members come together to discuss bilateral issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow we have the British-Irish Council, but I don\u2019t think that has the capacity to deal with a post-Brexit situation in terms of the British Irish relationships.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn other words, what the structure would do, you\u2019d have a permanent secretary, and you would have regular meetings between the British and Irish government with ministers attending to discuss and work out issues of bilateral concern.\u201d<\/p>\n