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Democratic Unionist deputy leader Nigels Dodds has warned the Taoiseach to \u201ctone down his rhetoric\u201d over Brexit.<\/p>\nDemocratic Unionist deputy leader Nigels Dodds has warned the Taoiseach to \u201ctone down his rhetoric\u201d over Brexit.<\/p>\n
Mr Dodds was speaking after Leo Varadkar told the World Economic Forum in Davos that the UK will find it \u201cvery difficult\u201d to agree trade deals after it leaves the European Union if it has not resolved the Irish border issue.<\/p>\n
The Taoiseach said if no deal is agreed between the UK and EU, the UK would have to accept full regulatory and customs alignment in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
British Prime Minister Theresa May is currently consulting on a new departure deal with the European Union, after MPs voted down her Withdrawal Agreement.<\/p>\n
The backstop arrangement to keep the Irish border open after Brexit was one of the main reasons it failed.<\/p>\n
There is now just two months until the UK\u2019s planned March 29 departure date.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar said if the UK leaves without a deal it will face \u201cenormous difficulties\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe United Kingdom would have a responsibility to abide by WTO rules and both the UK and Ireland would have responsibilities to honour the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process,\u201d Mr Varadkar said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I think we would end up in a situation where EU and Ireland and the UK would have to come together, and in order to honour our commitment to the people of Ireland that there be no hard border, we would have to agree on full alignment on customs and regulations, so after a period of chaos we would perhaps end up where we are now, with a very similar deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe United Kingdom in a no-deal scenario will face enormous difficulties.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Dodds blasted Mr Varadkar\u2019s points as \u201cnot constructive\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want the 2016 referendum result to be honored and leave the European Union through a sensible deal which works for every part of the United Kingdom and also our neighbors in the Republic of Ireland,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI reject Leo Varadkar\u2019s analysis. It is not a constructive contribution when we are focused on trying to reach a consensus.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn any case, the Taoiseach\u2019s comments about the Belfast Agreement actually ride a coach and horses through that Agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr Varadkar is evidently and understandably concerned about the impact of a \u2018no deal\u2019 on the Republic of Ireland but this is a time to tone down the rhetoric and keep cool heads.\u201d<\/p>\n