A change of British prime minister will not result in a change in the Government\u2019s stance on Brexit, the foreign affairs minister said.<\/p>\n
Simon Coveney said the Government\u2019s position had not changed and will not change because of Theresa May leaving her role.<\/p>\n
His comments came as some of the candidates in the Conservative party leadership campaign to replace Mrs May raised the prospect of a no-deal Brexit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government\u2019s position has not changed and it does not change because there is a change of British prime minister,\u201d Mr Coveney told the D\u00e1il on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has never been about personalities. It has always been about evidence, facts and trying to deal with the complexity of the decision of a country and economy the size of the UK to leave the European Union, of which it has been a part for 47 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe approximately 57 trade deals it has in place, the 70 billion euro trade relationship it has with Ireland, and the fact that we share responsibility for a peace process on this island, all make the UK\u2019s exit from the European Union very complicated.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is why the withdrawal agreement, which deals with that complexity in terms of the divorce arrangements for leaving, if one wishes to call it that, took two and a half years to negotiate.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is the EU\u2019s and Ireland\u2019s position and it is not going to change with a new person taking charge, regardless of what is being said and claimed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe facts do not change.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that Ireland needed to be \u201crespectful\u201d in how it relays that to the UK, but the Government also needed to be \u201cfirm and consistent\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Coveney was speaking in response to Fianna F\u00e1il\u2019s Brexit spokeswoman Lisa Chambers, who said there appeared to be no moderate candidate coming forward in the UK.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is concerning to hear almost all the candidates openly talking about a no-deal Brexit being a viable option,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Mr Coveney added that everyone was waiting to see who would replace Mrs May and what approach he would take on trying to find a way of getting a Brexit deal agreed and ratified.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, he said, Ireland would continue to focus on its no-deal preparations.<\/p>\n