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LAST UPDATE | 21 Jan 2019
THE EUROPEAN UNION’S lead Brexit negotiator has dismissed reports of a bilateral arrangement between the UK and Ireland.
In an interview with RTÉ News, Michel Barnier said the EU negotiated as one team.
Meanwhile, a question mark has been raised over the controversial backstop today, after Poland suggested the backstop could have a five-year limit.
However, it is understood that Tánaiste Simon Coveney has said that does not represent the thinking of other EU leaders.
Barnier told RTÉ’s Tony Connolly that the backstop was agreed as an “all weather” insurance policy to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland, he said.
He added that the focus was now on the future relationship and the political declaration which sketches that relationship.
Earlier today Downing Street rejected a report in today’s Daily Telegraph newspaper that Prime Minister Theresa May is considering rewriting a portion of the Good Friday Agreement so she can help get her Brexit deal through.
The prime minister is due to address the House of Commons today to outline the so-called “plan B” on Brexit, after her original deal was roundly defeated last week.
One of the proposals that could form this plan B would be rewriting the historic 1998 Good Friday Agreement to assure Ireland the UK is committed to ensuring no hard border, the Telegraph reported.
Members of her cabinet believe such a plan would avoid having to commit to the Northern Irish backstop – the red line issue for Ireland and the EU which was a key reason May lost the vote on her Brexit deal by such a wide margin last week.
However, after this report emerged Downing Street said that such assertions were incorrect, and the Good Friday Agreement couldn’t be changed.
Changing the deal – which set out a blueprint for peace after decades of violence in the North – is seen as a non-runner for the EU, Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio One today, Minister of State for European Affairs Helen McEntee said the agreement was “not negotiable”.
“Everything that we’re hearing in the last day or two is speculation, and until the Prime Minister actually brings something forward today and we actually hear what it is she has to say, all of this is speculation,” she said.
“But suggestions that we would amend, change, delete, or remove parts of the Good Friday Agreement are not something that we would be considering even looking at.”
Backstop
May must find some way of winning over the Eurosceptics within her own party and the DUP if her Brexit deal is to go through – and some way that avoids the backstop she agreed with the EU is vital for the prime minister.
The Irish backstop, which is referred to in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement as “the Protocol” is a promise that if all efforts to close a deal fail, that there will be “regulatory alignment” on the island of Ireland to avoid a hard border.
This would mean that rules and regulations in Northern Ireland would have to be similar to the EU’s/Ireland’s rules, to avoid customs checks or posts that would make up a hard border.
Graham Brady, who chairs the Conservative MP backbenchers’ group, said he thought May could get her Brexit deal past Conservative rebels if the Irish backstop “can be sorted out”.
“So much of the vote against was from people who simply cannot support a potentially permanent backstop, if that can be sorted out then I think we might get that withdrawal agreement through,” he told BBC radio over the weekend.
He said it was in Ireland’s interests to help Britain leave the EU with a deal, saying they would be far more hurt by a no-deal Brexit that Britain as most of their trade comes through the UK.
What happens today
May will address the Commons today to outline her new plans for Brexit, but has little time to win a consensus with roughly 10 weeks to go before the UK is due to leave the EU.
EU chiefs have so far ruled out renegotiating the agreement, but have signalled they could postpone the withdrawal if May changes her “red lines” on leaving the EU’s customs union and blocking free movement of citizens.
After May sets out her plans for the way ahead, MPs are set to table a series of amendments, to be voted upon on January 29.
With reporting from Gráinne Ní Aodha, Stephen McDermott, Christina Finn and AFP
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If the good Friday agreement is changed that would mean Ireland would have to have a referendum before any changes could be accepted.
Does she think that would happen before April?
@Barry Somers: I don’t think it would need a referendum in Ireland as it wouldn’t require a change to the constitution. The only reason a referendum was needed before was we were removing our territorially claim in the north from the constitution.
In any case, it would be absolutely ludicrous to make changes to the internationally recognised peace treaty that has brought peace to these islands just so the UK can leave the EU
@Tweety McTweeter: correct
@Barry Somers:
“He said it was in Ireland’s interests to help Britain leave the EU with a deal, saying they would be far more hurt by a no-deal Brexit that Britain as most of their trade comes through the UK.”
Poor Brits, they’re punch drunk and just repeating clichés.
The clock is ticking!
@Tweety McTweeter: Any significant changes to Northern Ireland’s status as part of the UK or in its affiliation with Ireland would have to be put to the voters first through a referendum in the North and the Republic.
@T Beckett is back: haven’t heard the ‘would be a totally frictionless boarded with new technology used to provide it’ in a while ….
@Barry Somers: we never voted for the GFA, all we did was change our constitution. If GFA is changed by GB, all we can do is change back the constitution.
@Barry Somers: Yah the 1st of April .
It depends. If ‘changed’ they mean ‘broken’ then the agreement will be seen by some as null and void. This could have an interpretation that we go back to before it was signed meaning we still claim the North as part of Ireland to which it would then require a referendum.
May flying a kite to gauge reaction.
May is doing everything she can to force another referendum and reverse Brexit.
@Dave Doyle: There will be rioting in the streets if some Brexit doesn’t happen. May will try everything to get her deal through or look at renegotiating. The EU, Ireland or the DUP will veto all suggestions. Pressure will come to bear and you’ll see a bunch of MPs flip in a final vote with hours to go to the 29th.
This would be nuts !!! Ireland would have to agree and I’d safely say we wouldn’t so if it’s true !! Jog on Theresa.
R
It is on the DUP to make a move. It comes down to a fairly simple equation:
If island of Ireland =/= hard border
and
UK =/= EU customs union
then
NI = special customs status, differing from GB.
This need not be a political issue, as it will not de facto separate NI from the rest of the UK. It would, however, ensure peace, frictionless trade on the island and enable Brexit.
@Julian Friesel: Agreed. The DUP being in government is a disaster for everyone else involved.
When Putin or Trump start WW3 boarders wont mean a thing….
@Dave Walsh: I wouldn’t put it past the english PM to start a new war to try and shore up support at home at this stage.
@Cal Mooney: Doubt it, she is a remainer. She wanted this clusterphuck so the whole thing will inevitably fail, forcing a second but educated vote.
@Dave Walsh:Ah now come off it , we’ll still have “boarders” —Sure they will still need accommodation in colleges and for young people starting off in their first employment
If they had a workable solution that would make the backstop unnecessary, then they wouldn’t have such a strong objection to signing up for something that would never come into force anyway.
All of this is just trying to kick the can slightly further down the road.
Stirring
Will Ireland get shafted, Yes they will!!!
@William Bryan: He says hopefully. Ireland is full of useless lackies just like you.
The Irish govt has spent two years talking about the border to the exclusion of negotiating all issues. Now we are told we may have to stockpile medicines and even food.
@Pragmatist2018: who told us that? Stockpile food are you mad man
@Pragmatist2018: we produce more than enough food to feed 30mil or there abouts, there was a massive world study on the subject recently.
Did these British MPs go to CLOWN COLLEGE
@Marianne: yop, Eton.
It will be a bad every day for Britain if she tries that.
No shock there that Poland doesn’t understand our situation and relationship with the UK.
In fact, I’d like to know what deal the UK has promised Poland in return for their undermining of the backstop.
@ross mcgee: pathetic from Poland after all their citizens we have welcomed into this country that is how they repay us.
It’s time for a vote on a United Ireland and finish it once and for all .
@Donal Carey: the result might not suit everyone
How can one change an agreement?
@Ronan Sexton: Very easily in the Brits case , and they have form also…..lest we forget.
I know we’re all fixated on the backstop, with good reason although I don’t believe there will be a change to the current border access whatever the outcome just more thorough financial enforcement, there is much worse for the UK in Mays deal that is unpalatable to Brexiteers.
A 5 year backstop seams fair. If they haven’t worked out a solution in that time, Ireland unites, or NI becomes independent and joins… Simples :)
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