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Brexit: Angela Merkel says Germany 'will stand' with Ireland | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germany will stand with Ireland "every step of the way" over Brexit. | |
She was speaking following talks in Dublin with the taoiseach (Irish prime minister) about the current deadlock. | |
Parliament is still no closer to passing a Brexit deal, with the UK scheduled to leave the EU on 12 April. | Parliament is still no closer to passing a Brexit deal, with the UK scheduled to leave the EU on 12 April. |
Ms Merkel was asked if it was possible to protect the integrity of the single market without an Irish border being in place. | |
She said: "We will simply have to be able to do this. We hope for a solution we can agree together with Britain. | |
"Where there's a will there's a way. We still hope for an orderly Brexit." | |
Ms Merkel said they hoped intensive ongoing discussions in London would lead to a situation by next Wednesday "where Prime Minister Theresa May will have something to table to us on the basis of which we can continue to talk". | |
She added: "Until the very last hour - I can say this from the German side - we will do everything in order to prevent a no-deal Brexit; Britain crashing out of the European Union. | |
"But we have to do this together with Britain and with their position that they will present to us." | |
Leo Varadkar restated his commitment to an open border in Ireland with free movement of people and frictionless trade, with no tariffs and no checks. | |
He added: "We don't want Ireland to become a back door to the single market in the event of a hard Brexit." | |
He said the two leaders had discussed planning for a no-deal Brexit. | |
'Ultimate deadline' | |
Their meeting comes just days after Mr Varadkar held discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. | |
On Wednesday, the EU said 12 April was "the ultimate deadline" for approving the Withdrawal Agreement. | |
It has been rejected by MPs three times, with DUP MPs voting against it - while independent unionist MP for North Down, Lady Hermon, voted in favour. | |
Speaking ahead of Ms Merkel's visit to Dublin, the taoiseach said she was "a strong and unwavering ally of Ireland". | |
Ahead of their meeting, the taoiseach and chancellor also held talks with people from Northern Ireland and the border area about the impact a no-deal Brexit could have on their livelihoods. | Ahead of their meeting, the taoiseach and chancellor also held talks with people from Northern Ireland and the border area about the impact a no-deal Brexit could have on their livelihoods. |
Mr Varadkar said it was "important" to hear the voices of people who lived and worked along the Irish border. | Mr Varadkar said it was "important" to hear the voices of people who lived and worked along the Irish border. |
Analysis: Shane Harrison, BBC News NI Dublin correspondent | Analysis: Shane Harrison, BBC News NI Dublin correspondent |
It is five years since the German chancellor was last in Dublin and although the Angela Merkel era is in its twilight she remains the most powerful politician in the EU. | It is five years since the German chancellor was last in Dublin and although the Angela Merkel era is in its twilight she remains the most powerful politician in the EU. |
Both she and Leo Varadkar are among the EU leaders who most want to avoid the UK crashing out without a deal. | Both she and Leo Varadkar are among the EU leaders who most want to avoid the UK crashing out without a deal. |
She has been, as the taoiseach said an "unwavering ally", and most supportive of the Northern Ireland peace process. | She has been, as the taoiseach said an "unwavering ally", and most supportive of the Northern Ireland peace process. |
Mr Varadkar has admitted there are difficulties in protecting both the single market and the Good Friday peace agreement while preventing a hard Irish border. | Mr Varadkar has admitted there are difficulties in protecting both the single market and the Good Friday peace agreement while preventing a hard Irish border. |