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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Leo Varadkar: A hard Brexit could 'undermine the union' | Leo Varadkar: A hard Brexit could 'undermine the union' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A no-deal Brexit could lead to a united Ireland and the break-up of the United Kingdom, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar has said. | A no-deal Brexit could lead to a united Ireland and the break-up of the United Kingdom, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar has said. |
| Boris Johnson told the Commons on Thursday that the route to a Brexit deal would be to persuade the EU to "abolish" the Irish border backstop. | Boris Johnson told the Commons on Thursday that the route to a Brexit deal would be to persuade the EU to "abolish" the Irish border backstop. |
| The EU maintains the withdrawal agreement was the best one possible and removing the backstop was unacceptable. | The EU maintains the withdrawal agreement was the best one possible and removing the backstop was unacceptable. |
| Mr Varadkar said the possibility of a no-deal Brexit was "a British threat". | Mr Varadkar said the possibility of a no-deal Brexit was "a British threat". |
| He added that he hoped that was not the option the new prime minister was choosing. | He added that he hoped that was not the option the new prime minister was choosing. |
| On Thursday, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, sent a note to European leaders, repeating the EU's position that getting rid of the backstop was "of course unacceptable", and labelling Mr Johnson's speech "rather combative". | On Thursday, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, sent a note to European leaders, repeating the EU's position that getting rid of the backstop was "of course unacceptable", and labelling Mr Johnson's speech "rather combative". |
| The backstop is a key piece of the deal negotiated by his predecessor's government, dictating what will happen to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. | The backstop is a key piece of the deal negotiated by his predecessor's government, dictating what will happen to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. |
| It is a last resort that guarantees a frictionless border if no better solution is devised in time - by maintaining close ties between the UK and the EU until such a solution is found. | It is a last resort that guarantees a frictionless border if no better solution is devised in time - by maintaining close ties between the UK and the EU until such a solution is found. |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |
| Speaking at a summer school in County Donegal on Friday, the taoiseach said in the event of a no-deal Brexit, more people in Northern Ireland would come to question the union. | Speaking at a summer school in County Donegal on Friday, the taoiseach said in the event of a no-deal Brexit, more people in Northern Ireland would come to question the union. |
| "People who you might describe as moderate nationalists or moderate Catholics, who were more or less happy with the status quo, will look more towards a united Ireland," he said. | "People who you might describe as moderate nationalists or moderate Catholics, who were more or less happy with the status quo, will look more towards a united Ireland," he said. |
| "I think increasingly you'll see liberal protestants, liberal unionists starting to ask the question as to where they feel more at home. | "I think increasingly you'll see liberal protestants, liberal unionists starting to ask the question as to where they feel more at home. |
| "Is it in a nationalist Britain, that's you know talking about potentially bringing back the death penalty and things like that, or is it part of a common European homeland and part of Ireland? | "Is it in a nationalist Britain, that's you know talking about potentially bringing back the death penalty and things like that, or is it part of a common European homeland and part of Ireland? |
| "One of the things, ironically that could really undermine the union, the United Kingdom union is a hard Brexit." | "One of the things, ironically that could really undermine the union, the United Kingdom union is a hard Brexit." |
| Earlier, the Irish foreign minster accused Boris Johnson of deliberately deciding to set the UK on "a collision course" with Ireland and the European Union. | Earlier, the Irish foreign minster accused Boris Johnson of deliberately deciding to set the UK on "a collision course" with Ireland and the European Union. |
| Mr Coveney, who is also Ireland's deputy prime minister, said the new prime minister's comments on Thursday made it "a very bad day" from the perspective of Brexit negotiations. | Mr Coveney, who is also Ireland's deputy prime minister, said the new prime minister's comments on Thursday made it "a very bad day" from the perspective of Brexit negotiations. |
| Boris Johnson responded, stating that "under no circumstances will there be any kind of checks at the frontier of Northern Ireland". | Boris Johnson responded, stating that "under no circumstances will there be any kind of checks at the frontier of Northern Ireland". |
| "The UK will be coming out of the EU on 31 October," he added. | "The UK will be coming out of the EU on 31 October," he added. |
| "Of course there will be all sorts of discussions to be had with our Irish friends about how to ensure that we will have continuous frictionless trade." | "Of course there will be all sorts of discussions to be had with our Irish friends about how to ensure that we will have continuous frictionless trade." |
| 'Basis for agreement' | 'Basis for agreement' |
| Simon Coveney also met the new Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith on Friday. | Simon Coveney also met the new Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith on Friday. |
| He described the meeting as useful, adding he believed that they would work well together. | |
| Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive collapsed in January 2017 with the main parties, Sinn Féin and the DUP not being able to find agreement on restoring it to date. | Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive collapsed in January 2017 with the main parties, Sinn Féin and the DUP not being able to find agreement on restoring it to date. |
| All parties want to make the devolved government work in Northern Ireland, Mr Coveney said, adding that he hoped a deal on restoring the devolved government will be concluded in the coming weeks: | All parties want to make the devolved government work in Northern Ireland, Mr Coveney said, adding that he hoped a deal on restoring the devolved government will be concluded in the coming weeks: |
| "I believe we are very close to having the basis for agreement. | "I believe we are very close to having the basis for agreement. |
| "I do not believe that there is any policy reason why the talks should continue for many more weeks." | "I do not believe that there is any policy reason why the talks should continue for many more weeks." |