![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2.39835189-1.jpg\")
The Irish and German leaders have pledged to \u201cstand by\u201d the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.<\/p>\nThe Irish and German leaders have pledged to \u201cstand by\u201d the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.<\/p>\n
It comes as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Ireland will not accept any change to the deal that renders the backstop inoperable.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar also said the threat of a no-deal scenario was not of Ireland or the EU\u2019s making, and that he was looking to the UK to propose a viable solution.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is up to them to make a proposal but it has to be a proposal that we can accept,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can\u2019t be a proposal that contradicts what\u2019s already in the Withdrawal Agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can\u2019t be something that renders the backstop inoperable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar made the comments in Dublin on Thursday following the Government\u2019s first Cabinet meeting of 2019.<\/p>\n
Ministers met to discuss no-deal contingency preparations in detail following the publication of the Government\u2019s action plan last month.<\/p>\n
It comes as the UK\u2019s former Brexit secretary David Davis urged Prime Minister Theresa May to delay the \u201cmeaningful vote\u201d on the deal for a second time.<\/p>\n
Speaking at Government Buildings Mr Varadkar said he had spoken with German Chancellor Angela Merkel by phone on Thursday morning at her request.<\/p>\n
We’re happy to offer reassurances and guarantees to the UK, but not reassurances and guarantees that contradict or change what was agreed back in November<\/p>\n
The conversation, which lasted about 40 minutes, focused on securing the ratification of the deal, which is expected to be put to a vote in the House of Commons later this month.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar said both leaders had decided to \u201cstand by\u201d the agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re happy to offer reassurances and guarantees to the UK, but not reassurances and guarantees that contradict or change what was agreed back in November,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Taoiseach said the Government would be continuing with its contingency planning in the event of a no-deal Brexit.<\/p>\n
About 45 pieces of legislation will need to be approved if a deal is not reached.<\/p>\n
But he said that he would not be bringing any such legislation to parliament before March as he did not want to \u201ctie up\u201d parliamentary proceedings with legislation that may not be needed.<\/p>\n
In its action plan in the event of a no-deal scenario, the Government warned that if an agreement is not reached it would have \u201csevere macroeconomic, trade and sectoral impacts\u201d on the country.<\/p>\n
The more than 130-page document aims to minimize any potential risk of disruption from additional checks. It includes the recruitment of 600 customs officer posts, as well as extra staff for the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Agriculture.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar added that he had \u201cgiven up speculating\u201d on the potential outcome of Brexit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe threat of a no-deal isn\u2019t one that Ireland is making, isn\u2019t one that the European Union is making,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe threat of no deal can be taken off the table at any time by the UK Parliament either by ratifying the agreement that the 28 governments have made or by seeking the extension to Article 50 to allow more time for us to negotiate what needs to be negotiated.\u201d<\/p>\n