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Baphornet
08 Jan 19 11:10
Joined:
Date Joined: 02 Nov 18
| Topic/replies: 22,940 | Blogger: Baphornet's blog
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"
Pause • Switch to Standard View Ireland putting it's toes in th water
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Report Foinavon • January 8, 2019 11:37 AM GMT
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.
Report moisok • January 8, 2019 11:46 AM GMT
It's the 1930s all over again.  How did ireland do then?
Report Baphornet • January 8, 2019 11:54 AM GMT
Foinavon; a stellar post
Report workrider • January 8, 2019 4:49 PM GMT
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!
Report moisok • January 8, 2019 4:54 PM GMT
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/ireland-and-the-nazis-a-troubled-hi...
Report moisok • January 8, 2019 4:55 PM GMT
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/ireland-and-the-nazis-a-troubled-hi...
Report moisok • January 8, 2019 4:55 PM GMT
for some reason my reply won't go through
Report lfc1971 • January 8, 2019 4:56 PM GMT
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
Report lfc1971 • January 8, 2019 4:58 PM GMT
We see they are up to their old ways  , don’t trust them
They don’t deserve to be trusted
Report moisok • January 8, 2019 4:59 PM GMT
that took ages to get through  - is it the topic - sensitive???
Report workrider • January 8, 2019 5:02 PM GMT
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...
Report pa lapsy • January 8, 2019 5:03 PM GMT
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.
Report workrider • January 8, 2019 5:04 PM GMT
Mosley springs to mind moaisk, kettle and black..
Report lfc1971 • January 8, 2019 5:06 PM GMT
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
Report akabula • January 8, 2019 5:06 PM GMT
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 and shunned.
Report lfc1971 • January 8, 2019 5:08 PM GMT
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
Report pa lapsy • January 8, 2019 5:09 PM GMT
Britain 2016 "we are heading towards sunny uplands and unicorns"
Britain 2019 " boo hoo,the paddies are bullying us"
Report lfc1971 • January 8, 2019 5:11 PM GMT
Nothing much changes with the Irish , don’t be fooled they are full of hatred for Britain that’s clear
Report moisok • January 8, 2019 5:12 PM GMT
the progressives are full of insults as usual

I thought Ireland was neutral with dodgy undertones 

but who can go against the word of someone who re-writes history
Report pa lapsy • January 8, 2019 5:13 PM GMT
Not really,the only "hatred" is by the norths and scottish orange people,now that is hate.
Report lfc1971 • January 8, 2019 5:15 PM GMT
Is the so? and who were  planting the bombs and carrying out the murders ?
Report workrider • January 8, 2019 5:15 PM GMT
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...
Report moisok • January 8, 2019 5:17 PM GMT
what on earth is he rambling on about
Report lfc1971 • January 8, 2019 5:18 PM GMT
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 *****
Report moisok • January 8, 2019 5:18 PM GMT
Ireland was neutral was it not.  Lots of connections with nazi germany too.
Report pa lapsy • January 8, 2019 5:18 PM GMT
Loyalist terror squads? 

Anyway, i posted on the thread as using Ireland as a scapegoat for the state of affairs you are in now is very lame.
Report lfc1971 • January 8, 2019 5:20 PM GMT
The most important battle for freedom in history and those fools choose not to help
They can pipe down about freedom for at least a thousand years
Report akabula • January 8, 2019 5:20 PM GMT
Yes they were brave men as were all that took part in the war workrider .
But it doesn't change what I posted.
Report workrider • January 8, 2019 5:21 PM GMT
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...
Report pa lapsy • January 8, 2019 5:21 PM GMT
The facts are the Americans and Russians won the war.
Report lfc1971 • January 8, 2019 5:22 PM GMT
There we go , that’s the scummy attitude to Britain from the Irish like pa lapsy right there
Report workrider • January 8, 2019 5:23 PM GMT
End of rant , ye are not worth it anyway...
Report pa lapsy • January 8, 2019 5:23 PM GMT
It is the truth
Report moisok • January 8, 2019 5:24 PM GMT
ha ha  -ye attempt to re write history - Ireland was neutral - hope this helps
Report akabula • January 8, 2019 5:25 PM GMT
%age wise more in the ROI sat out than did in the UK and NI.
Anyway that wasn't the point of my posts, maybe you could address them.
Report lfc1971 • January 8, 2019 5:25 PM GMT
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
Report Foinavon • January 8, 2019 5:33 PM GMT
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.
Report akabula • January 8, 2019 5:37 PM GMT
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.
Report pa lapsy • January 8, 2019 5:42 PM GMT
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.
Report Foinavon • January 8, 2019 5:43 PM GMT
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.
Report Foinavon • January 8, 2019 5:54 PM GMT
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.
Report Sica Dan • January 8, 2019 6:01 PM GMT
Ireland owes the UK tens of millions,they will need to borrow millions more from the EU
if there is no deal.
Report pa lapsy • January 8, 2019 6:03 PM GMT
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.
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