Brexit: Ireland Border Deal Is 'Far Too Ambiguous'

DUP MP Nigel Dodds has said the deal between the UK and EU is "far too ambiguous".

The deputy leader of the party said the "UK stands together and nothing will happen that will cause the breakup of this great United Kingdom".

Speaking in the House of Commons he said: "We will not allow any settlement to be agreed which causes the divergence politically or economically of Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom." 

The DUP refused to accept plans which would have moved Northern Ireland's customs border to the Irish Sea on Monday, 04 December.

He continued: "The reality is that one of the good things that came out of yesterday is that from all sides of this House - Labour, Conservative, backbenchers, Ruth Davidson, Carwyn Jones, everybody - there is now an agreement that the United Kingdom stands together and nothing will happen that will cause the break-up of this great United Kingdom."

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD told An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that he must stand firm against the narrow interests of the DUP and the Conservatives on Brexit.

He said: "We have always said that the DUP deal with the Tories would end in tears. However, we should not underestimate the consequences of that deal. It has been played out in Stormont and yesterday in Brussels.

"More enlightened members of the DUP know that a special arrangement needs to be struck for the North. The DUP knows that this is not a case of Orange versus Green. We should not underestimate the contrariness of some of their leaders.

"Despite this, all of us, who live on this island collectively, including the DUP, must protect each other and plan intelligently for a future for everyone."

(CD)