Coveney quoted in The Guardian: MPs who are planning to vote against Theresa May’s deal need to stop their “wishful thinking” that the EU will re-open Brexit negotiations, the Irish deputy prime minister has said in a hard-hitting speech in Dublin.
“These are fateful days and weeks in British politics. I remain convinced that there is a majority in the UK parliament which will do all it can to avert a disastrous crash-out Brexit,” Simon Coveney said in the first major intervention by the Irish government after the withdrawal agreement was signed in November.
“The time for wishful thinking is over. There is no alternative 585-page agreement waiting to be dusted off,” he said. “And it is also wishful thinking to ignore the default outcome if nothing else is agreed – that default is a crash-out.”
He warned it was time for MPs to be realistic and to stop holding on to the notion, expressed by the former Brexit secretary David Davis on the BBC on Tuesday morning, that the EU was playing negotiating games.
“Surely now is the time in Westminster for everyone, in government and in opposition, to cast aside unrealistic options based on promises that simply cannot be delivered,” Coveney said in front of a gathering of Ireland’s international diplomatic corps, alongside the German foreign minister, Heiko Maas, in Dublin.
In an indirect appeal to the 100 or so MPs who are expected to vote against May’s deal next week, he said reality needed to take hold in Westminster.
“If that doesn’t happen quickly, in the absence of that realism, it is the hardliners who think no price is too high to pay for their version of Brexit who will win out to everyone’s cost, including Ireland’s.”
His remarks come after the taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, said the EU did not want to “trap” Britain and was working hard on written assurances to help May get the withdrawal agreement ratified in Westminster next week.
Coveney also appealed to the DUP and Sinn Féin to get Northern Ireland’s devolved government back up and running quickly.
“With a UK decision to leave the EU about to cause unprecedented dislocation – there is simply no excuse for the parties in Northern Ireland not to find a way to work together.”
Davis told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that fresh written assurances from the EU to address his concerns over the Irish border element of the deal would not be enough as they would not be “legally binding”.
The assurances are expected to include a pledge that a trade deal could be signed off by 2021, thereby obviating the need for a backstop if the transition period was extended for one year.
Davis expressed confidence that the EU would make a U-turn, was merely “testing the mettle” of the UK and predicted the EU would re-open negotiations.
Coveney said on Tuesday morning this was impossible. “The European council provided reassurances about the backstop in December and we are ready to provide additional clarifications if these are helpful,” he said
“However, we cannot reopen the withdrawal agreement text itself, which was the product of multiple compromises and highly detailed negotiations in a very wide range of areas.”
Varadkar said EU leaders did not wish to trap Britain in the backstop indefinitely and had already made that clear.
The remarks from the Irish leader and his deputy came as German’s foreign minister flew to Dublin for the fourth round of talks between Ireland and Germany since Thursday as part of a continuing bid to find a fix that will help May get her deal ratified in parliament.
Maas will also address Ireland’s diplomatic corps on Tuesday on his second visit to the Irish capital in a year.
Last week, Varadkar, who speaks German, had a 40-minute call with Angela Merkel and also visited Munich to address her coalition partners, the CSU. On Friday, he met the German chancellor’s successor as CDU leader, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, for discussions on Brexit and the future of Europe.
However; Coveney has just said that if the British Government asks for extension to Article 50; Ireland would not "Stand in it's way"
Irish government getting jittery. They realise that they have overplayed their hand, have been used as a pawn by the EU and are now at severe risk of their own economy crashing after Brexit. Tough. The whole article is loaded with anti-Brexit rhetoric and is a blatant propaganda attempt by a foreign government to influence the parliamentary vote.
Irish government getting jittery. They realise that they have overplayed their hand, have been used as a pawn by the EU and are now at severe risk of their own economy crashing after Brexit. Tough.The whole article is loaded with anti-Brexit rhetoric
How did Ireland do then asks moisoks, well I'll tell you how she did , she allowed hundreds of thousands of her children fight for a Country that had enslaved her people for Centuries . Thousands like my Grandfather, my Father his brothers while many a ENGLISHMAN ran away from the war or stayed at home PLAYING at been at war...Thousands of her Children died fighting to save Englands liberty, that's what Ireland did!
How did Ireland do then asks moisoks, well I'll tell you how she did , she allowed hundreds of thousands of her children fight for a Country that had enslaved her people for Centuries . Thousands like my Grandfather, my Father his brothers while many
How did they do in the 1930s ? they refused to fight in WW2 alongside Britain as it stood in danger against the evil nazi regime , After they act if treachery no one from Ireland should have ever allowed to live in Britain again
How did they do in the 1930s ? they refused to fight in WW2 alongside Britain as it stood in danger against the evil nazi regime , After they act if treachery no one from Ireland should have ever allowed to live in Britain again
My Grandfather fought in India for England while Englishmen ran around London sunning themselves the Cowardly Bastards, my Father and his brothers left a lovely home to go fight for your Country one of his brothers spent 3 year in a POW camp , England owes my family big time, but we ask and receive nothing , we were happy to help...
My Grandfather fought in India for England while Englishmen ran around London sunning themselves the Cowardly Bastards, my Father and his brothers left a lovely home to go fight for your Country one of his brothers spent 3 year in a POW camp , Englan
Foinavon,easy to point "blame" at Ireland,you have to remember it was your finest "brains" that thought it was a good deal last September.It was most pityful negotiating ever in your history,how Europe laughed at ye and bit your hand off for it. No fan of leo but your country is absolutely pathetic up to this point,personnally didn't want to see it on the original reason of the UK wanting to leave but the blame is with yourselves.
Foinavon,easy to point "blame" at Ireland,you have to remember it was your finest "brains" that thought it was a good deal last September.It was most pityful negotiating ever in your history,how Europe laughed at ye and bit your hand off for it.No fa
The next time someone from Ireland pipes up they should be told that’s fine You no longer have the right to live and work in Britain , very good There’s plenty of work in Germany and France and Poland , Cheerio
The next time someone from Ireland pipes up they should be told that’s fine You no longer have the right to live and work in Britain , very good There’s plenty of work in Germany and France and Poland , Cheerio
Workrider - she allowed hundreds of thousands of her children fight - estimates suggest just under 70,000 from the ROI joined the fight against the Nazis. Returning home after the war they were treated with contempt and shunned.
Foinavon on the money as per usual.Workrider - she allowed hundreds of thousands of her children fight - estimates suggest just under 70,000 from the ROI joined the fight against the Nazis.Returning home after the war they were treated with contempt
clowns like workrider will have us all believing that it was ireland that fought and won WW2 Yes I’m sure they were spitfires flying over England , thanks
clowns like workrider will have us all believing that it was ireland that fought and won WW2 Yes I’m sure they were spitfires flying over England , thanks
I thought Ireland was neutral with dodgy undertones
but who can go against the word of someone who re-writes history
the progressives are full of insults as usualI thought Ireland was neutral with dodgy undertones but who can go against the word of someone who re-writes history
What a wonderful example so Akabula, 70,000 from a population of some 3,500,000 fighting men came, Volunteers not conscript's , came of their own choosing while the Country they left behind was still been divided up among a bunch of Scottish land grabbers . They stood shoulder to shoulder and died side by side with those who despised them most, what brave men they were...
What a wonderful example so Akabula, 70,000 from a population of some 3,500,000 fighting men came, Volunteers not conscript's , came of their own choosing while the Country they left behind was still been divided up among a bunch of Scottish land gr
We are talking about Ireland and the majority of Irish who were quite happy to see Britain stand alone against the most evil and dangerous regime And then they gave the gaul to talk about freedom , silly *****
We are talking about Ireland and the majority of Irish who were quite happy to see Britain stand alone against the most evil and dangerous regime And then they gave the gaul to talk about freedom , silly *****
I'd say people like yourself and many like ye would be hard pressed to show such dedication as my Family did, in fact I doubt many BRITISH families sent as many of theirs to war as mine...Did YOUR family offer such service to King and Country or were they sitting out the war in some nice little seaside town till it was all over like so many BRITISH did...
I'd say people like yourself and many like ye would be hard pressed to show such dedication as my Family did, in fact I doubt many BRITISH families sent as many of theirs to war as mine...Did YOUR family offer such service to King and Country or were
That’s fine , there seems to be no reason why they should be allowed the freedoms to live and work in Britain now is there ? Why not clear off, that’s fine
That’s fine , there seems to be no reason why they should be allowed the freedoms to live and work in Britain now is there ?Why not clear off, that’s fine
I don't dispute that the so called negotiations have been badly handled on the UK side pa lapsy, I also think they have been cynically handled by the civil servants appointed by the Remainer PM over the heads David Davies and his department. It doesn't change the role still being played by the Irish Government over the border issue.
I don't dispute that the so called negotiations have been badly handled on the UK side pa lapsy, I also think they have been cynically handled by the civil servants appointed by the Remainer PM over the heads David Davies and his department. It doesn
My son is convinced that TM is playing us like a fiddle. Can't get my head around her thinking this deal would be acceptable but maybe she knew that. Who knows what her end game is.
My son is convinced that TM is playing us like a fiddle.Can't get my head around her thinking this deal would be acceptable but maybe she knew that. Who knows what her end game is.
I agree Foinavon,you had imo a great option of insisting on a hard border due to the poor deal and despite the GFA during the negotiations, a bluff maybe but it would have given leverage in said negotiations at the time.
I agree Foinavon,you had imo a great option of insisting on a hard border due to the poor deal and despite the GFA during the negotiations, a bluff maybe but it would have given leverage in said negotiations at the time.
I think the EU believed May when she told them she could get it through Parliament hence the jitters now that they see she probably can't. Varadkar has been talking the Germans hoping for massive aid if we actually leave the single market and customs union. If he gets anything, it won't be for long especially as we won't be contributing anymore.
I think the EU believed May when she told them she could get it through Parliament hence the jitters now that they see she probably can't. Varadkar has been talking the Germans hoping for massive aid if we actually leave the single market and customs
The UK doesn't want a hard border, it isn't necessary considering the piffling amount crossing the Irish border. The EU has said they won't implement a hard border either so why the back-stop? It's political and the Irish Government and the EU both want it. It will mean they have the whip-hand in any subsequent trade deal negotiations.
The UK doesn't want a hard border, it isn't necessary considering the piffling amount crossing the Irish border. The EU has said they won't implement a hard border either so why the back-stop? It's political and the Irish Government and the EU both w
Yes,at which a hard border should have been "threatened" in Sept, negotiations are just that say anything thing really and if the other side is dopey enough to agree job done. The "complete pants" down though gives rise to cynical thinking indeed.
Yes,at which a hard border should have been "threatened" in Sept, negotiations are just that say anything thing really and if the other side is dopey enough to agree job done. The "complete pants" down though gives rise to cynical thinking indeed.