Leo Varadkar To Discuss Irish Border With EU Officials

Ireland's Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will hold meetings with key EU figures on Friday, 05 October, in an attempt to find a solution to the ongoing Irish border backstop disagreements.

Mr Varadkar will meet with President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.

Ahead of the meetings, Mr Varadkar said: "The negotiations are entering a critical phase, and time is running out. But I believe that an agreement is possible, with the right political will and focus on all sides."

The Irish border has became a sticking point in Brexit negotiations, with the EU and UK unable to find common ground on the terms of the backstop deal that would ensure free movement in the event of the failure of a wider trade deal.

Mr Varadkar has expressed his concern at the possibility of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and the need to avoid this as reason for his meetings with EU officials.

"The withdrawal Agreement must ensure that, no matter what the outcome of negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and UK, a hard border on the island of Ireland will be avoided," he said.

"This is critically important to reinforce the stability brought about by the Peace Process and the Good Friday Agreement."

Mr Varadkar also warned that time is running out on the negotiations.





(JG)