Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has said Ireland is not interested in a “land grab” in Northern Ireland.
Speaking at the All Island Dialogue on Brexit this morning, he also said the United Kingdom’s approach “will have to change in some way” if the Brexit withdrawal agreement is to go ahead.
Varadkar said the Irish government pursuit for a Brexit backstop to avoid a hard border is not a bid for a land grab, stating:
“There is absolutely no question of Ireland or the EU being interested in a land grab for Northern Ireland. That is not on our agenda”.
Lead EU Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, joined the Taoiseach and Tánaiste Simon Coveney in Dundalk Institute of Technology today – where the border issue is top of the agenda.
“Without a solution to the border issue, there will be no agreement, let there be no doubt about that,” said the Taoiseach. He added that there needs to be real and meaningful progress by June’s EU Council meeting.
While there are many, many issues at play in relation to Brexit, it is the border issue that primarily concerns Ireland, and is one of the issues that has the potential to hold up the talks.
There is still a big question mark over how the border will operate in light of Brexit.
The idea that technology solutions are the answer has been dismissed by the Taoiseach and the EU.
Earlier this month, the front page of the Telegraph newspaper reported on a leaked report which highlighted that the UK’s border solutions were not workable – something Coveney and Varadkar said they have highlighting for some time now.
Today, the Taoiseach sought to reassure the unionists in Northern Ireland. The Irish government has “no hidden agenda”, he said.
One of the unionists’ concerns is the border will be moved to the Irish Sea, which they argue would undermine and threaten the union with the UK.
Foster said earlier that Barnier does not understand the dispute and is “not an honest broker”. She also accused him of not understanding her party’s position.
Barnier denied this is the case, stating that he is not going to enter “polemics” with the DUP.
He added that he did not enter the negotiations in a “spirit of revenge”, stating that his “door is open”.
“I respect all opinions,” he said.
Following a meeting this morning, Barnier, Varadkar and Coveney said they remain united on the position of the border with Northern Ireland, reiterating the point that there can be no hard border.
Barnier said the EU is resolutely committed to protecting and nurturing the peace process on this island.
Using the word ‘extraordinary’ to describe the negotiations on two occasions this morning, he also acknowledged “there is a risk” the Brexit talks will fail if progress is not made. However, he said he is “determined” to get a deal over the line.
He added that he would use the word determined rather than “optimistic or pessimistic” when describing his hopes for the talks.
Varadkar thanked Barnier today for showing his commitment to Ireland and understanding the importance of having an effective solution to the border problem in the withdrawal agreement.
Coveney thanked him for delivering on the promises he made when he first visited the Dáil last May.
He told the head of the EU task force that Barnier had become a “household name” in Ireland. The Tánaiste said Barnier is a man to be trusted, adding that after many meetings, the head of the EU task force often takes him by the elbow and states: “I am with you till the end.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
A Greek tragedy.
Watch dictatorship win over democracy and weep.
So much for all this “cradle of democracy” and “why don’t we do the same in Ireland” nonsense, reality kicks in hopefully
I for one hope the Greeks get their referendum and the result that will hopefully lead to the collapse of the euro and all the shit that goes with it.
The harsh reality for millions of Greeks is that romantic notions about democracy won’t put food on the table next month. They have a stark choice. Accept the bail out.. Death by a thousand cuts… Or reject the bailout… Instant death. Their pompous politicians ought to be ashamed for bring their Nation to it’s knees.
The € will croak and the quicker and less painful the better,Insane concept from the off.
Why was it insane?
We are witnessing the explicit emergence of authoritarian capitalism. No longer can we have any illusion that democracy has any part to play in the plans of those who wish to continue with unending wealth accumulation.
Meanwhile on the streets of Oakland we see this http://twitpic.com/7aazyi
The game has yet to be played out. If this kinda of authoritarianism is not resisted as China becomes the greatest superpower idea of genuine democracy will be snuffed out for sure. thats the choice now authoritarian capitalism where societys rule are organised from above by and few for a few. Or democracy from below where we govern ourselves as equals. The idea that there is no left and no right is the greatest stunt the right has pulled, but make no doubt of the iron fist that lies at the heart of the “free markets”
Emergence of authoritarian capitalism !!!! it’s been that way since man came out of the caves
We are not an automatic democracy. We elect representatives and they think for us for five years. Vote good quality people in every five years then largely STFU. However if we vote in venal twits like about 50% of our politicians are we’ll have to keep demanding a vote every 6 months no matter what. It is not part of (or even good practice in any circumstances) to give everyone a broad vote on every economics bill.
Now some you can make an argument for but one that writes down vast chunks of their debt is the only way to go.
“Instant death” is bit dramatic don’t you think. Headline should read ‘Greek finance minister’s grab for power’.
Come on Papandreou!
A figure of speech only. I don’t envisage bodies all over Athens streets.. This is getting dangerous now. Financial warfare is being unleashed on Europes citizens. Dramatic enough??:)
And the Greeks (via referendum) are fighting back.
A bit of back peddling finally! About time
Napoleon in high heels and Hitler in drag. Don’t worry. All is not lost. This is the final act in the farce that is “the markets”.
This is the future – Ordinary Greeks are taking matters into their own hands:
“In early October, a peculiar news item barely made its way into the back pages of Greek national press: in the northern city of Veria, a small group of people had started reconnecting the electricity supply of households disconnected from the national grid due to bill non-payment. This kind of solidarity action seemed rather abnormal.
Then again, it is difficult to define what constitutes normality in the country nowadays – the upper echelon of political power is in an unprecedented turmoil, and Tuesday’s referendum announcement by prime minister George Papandreou, followed by him reportedly preparing to step down, has thrown his political allies and foes into a tailspin. Parliamentary opposition parties are calling for a “national unity” government, snap elections, or a succession of the two; the entire mainstream political spectrum in the country seems to have entered a delirious state of panic. In a stunningly surreal scene, eurozone leaders and global markets are nervously waiting for people in Greece to cast a vote.
And yet, at this precise moment, Greek people are realising they are left with what they had at the outset – that is, absolutely nothing to hope for from the mainstream political scene.”
See more here http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/03/greeks-austerity-grassroots?CMP=twt_gu
What’s brendan Gleason doing there
Lol neo.
have your say