Michel Barnier: "No clarity in how UK will honour special responsibility to Ireland"

Mr Barnier joins politicians who have been reacting to Theresa May's keynote speech in Florence on Friday.

The Prime Minister addressed media in an attempt to break the deadlock of current talks which resume for the fourth round on Monday.

Mrs May proposed an 'implementation period' of 'around two years' after the UK leaves the EU.

"The UK government, the Irish government and the EU as a whole have been clear that through the process of our withdrawal we will protect progress made in Northern Ireland over recent years and the lives and livelihoods that depend on this progress.

"As part of this, we and the EU have committed to protecting the Belfast Agreement and the Common Travel Area and, looking ahead, we have both stated explicitly that we will not accept any physical infrastructure at the border.

"We owe it to the people of Northern Ireland and indeed to everyone on the island of Ireland to see through these commitments," she said.

But Michel Barnier says she failed to provide key detail on the repercussions of Brexit for Ireland.

"(Yesterday's) speech does not clarify how the UK intends to honour its special responsibility for the consequences of its withdrawal for Ireland.

"Our objective is to preserve the Good Friday Agreement in all its dimensions, as well as the integrity of the Single Market and the Customs Union," he said.

The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also called for more detail on how a transition period might work in 2019.

"I think I would give the speech a cautious welcome," he said.

"I think it is a genuine effort by the Prime Minister to move things along and make progress," he added.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said Mrs May delivered nothing but 'the same old story.'

"There was nothing new on the Good Friday Agreement, Irish border or EU citizens' rights.

"On the basis of ...(yesterday's) speech and in the absence of any substantial progress toward a resolution of these three key issues, the Irish government should oppose any move toward the next phase of negotiations on trade at the October EU summit."

However, the leader of the Prime Minister's DUP allies Arlene Foster claimed she had outlined a positive vision for the future.

Mrs Foster said: "This was a positive vision outlined by the Prime Minister.

"A strong signal has been sent in her speech, that although we are leaving the EU we still want to have very positive relationships with our nearest neighbours.

"This is particularly important to Northern Ireland.

"The reassurances to EU citizens in the United Kingdom will be warmly welcomed, as will the proposed new economic partnership."