Varadkar 'disappointed' after UK pulls plug on Brexit deal
Ireland's Taoiseach expressed surprise and disappointment after claiming the UK pulled the plug on an agreement to progress Brexit talks.
Leo Varadkar said the UK government agreed a key concession on the Irish border on Monday morning, only to step away from that commitment later in the day, asking for more time, after coming under pressure from the Democratic Unionists.
The Fine Gael leader expressed hope that the deal could still be concluded by the end of the week, insisting he still trusted Prime Minister Theresa May.
Mr Varadkar claimed the UK had agreed that Northern Ireland would continue to comply with EU regulations post-Brexit, thus facilitating the operation of the current open border between north and south.
During this engagement Mrs May paused to have a phone call with Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster, who voiced strong opposition to a proposal she claimed would see Northern Ireland treated differently to the rest of the UK, creating a border in the Irish Sea.
The UK government's grip on power is dependent on its confidence and supply deal with the DUP at Westminster.
In an apparent reference to the referendum result in the region, where 56% voted remain, he said it was important the majority opinion was heard.
"This is not a new issue nor has it been given greater prominence in recent weeks, as some people have suggested,'' he said.
"I want to offer the reassurance that there is no hidden agenda here, our only guiding light is the Good Friday Agreement which clearly states that the constitutional status of Northern Ireland cannot be changed without the consent of the people of Northern Ireland and this is fundamental to our position.''
That was postponed after the dramatic developments in Belgium and he instead appeared almost three hours later to express frustration.
"Following the Government meeting this morning, the Irish negotiating team received confirmation from the British government and the Barnier task force that the United Kingdom had agreed a text on the border that met our concerns,'' he said.
"I was then contacted by the President of the European Commission President Juncker and the President of the European Council President Tusk and I confirmed to them both Ireland's agreement to that text.''
The Taoiseach said there had been no subsequent request by the UK side to change the terms of the text.
"I don't see any need for changes. It wasn't easy to come to the agreement that we came to. It was a compromise. I don't see any reason to change the text at this stage."