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TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has backed a call by European Council president Donald Tusk to grant an extension to the Brexit deadline of 31 October.
British PM Boris Johnson attempted to have his Brexit deal rushed through parliament in a bid leave the EU before the end of the month, but it was shot down by the House of Commons.
The alternative was to seek an extension to give MPs more time to ratify the agreement, and the date now being suggested is 31 January 2020.
Yesterday, Tusk recommended that the EU permit an extension to allow the passage of the bill in Westminster.
In a statement, it was confirmed that Varadkar spoke with Tusk this morning regarding the UK’s request for an extension.
“The Taoiseach confirmed his support for President Tusk’s proposal to grant the request for an extension which was sought by the UK.
“They noted that it would still be possible for the UK to leave before 31 January 2020 if the Withdrawal Agreement has been ratified in advance of that date.”
It added the issue would likely be discussed at an EU committee meeting in Brussels tonight.
Johnson said last night that he would press pause on the WAB and that the EU would make a call on how to proceed.
House Speaker John Bercow has said that the technical term used for the current status of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill is that it is in “limbo”.
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And then another extension until March 2020
@☘: it’s never ending. Im sick to my back teeth hearing about Brexit all day every day. It’s so depressing. If they can’t come up with a solution by now, they never will. Just turf them out and let them figure it out. It will also serve as a case study for other countries thinking about leaving.
@Peter Cavey: Or maybe pretend the referendum never happened and simply extend … extend … and extend until everyone forgets or votes again … democracy ECB/Eu/ire style.
Of course Leo would love an extension,all the scandals and the heat is off him and not having to worry about an election till next year,I’ve never seen a leader have it as handy
Taoisach told what to do… Thought Macron and others would not accept extension. So predictable…
@Willy Mc Bride: still waiting for that bus?
@Willy Mc Bride: ahh Willie, there you are now. I thought you had gone under the Brexit red bus.
@HuffnPuff: Is the backstop no longer?
Yep. Even then EU pushes to thwart the will of the people. Liebour doing their bidding over there as Lieo and co do it here..
Democracy didn’t count again for those that voted leave. They need vote again.
We are a prime example , tonnes of votes till right .
Meanwhile the brexit deal has gone threw 2027
I can understand the EU’s stance but they were adamant last March that there would be no more extensions. It seems that everybody has compromised for a deal; not a bad thing in the overall picture.
nuts, i was hoping for a veto to the extension
@Trevor Donoghue: why ? It’s gonna hit us hard if no deal is found
@bmul: True, however if we remove the unwritten rule that an extension option is always there, maybe the opposition will ratify the legislation quickly and put a stop to the delays. If the opposition (particularly Labour) took a firm position for a new referendum on Brexit instead of frustrating the WAB things would go much more smoothly.
No more extensions ! Go leave them go NOW and leave us get on with what ever happens
@Mary Mc Carthy: errant nonsense. That kind of jump off the cliff attitude is what drives Brexiteers
They made a deal shot it down 3 times, made a second deal shot it down twice, so im guessing their next deal wil be shot down once and then the fourth deal will be accepted brexit by 2030
@Karl Charlie: The second coming will happen before Brexit does.
Leo following his boss.
Kick the can down the road and hope for the best?
Should be an extension until the second offered deal is accepted. They will pass the deal then, guaranteed.
Deeply insulting that 27 EU members agree a deal and it is rejected on technically four occasions.
If they extend to January 2020, Leo should cal an election here.
@milton friedman: or give an extension ONLY if the uk agrees to accept the current deal
@Karl Charlie: Give that extension with the understanding that a referendum is attached.
What a brown nose. Soo embarrassing
@Leo Lalor: it’s a perfectly understandable and rational stance, but sure go ahead and criticize. Small Irelander
This was the real deal agreed last week; gimme an extension with enough time to force a GE, and I’ll give you internal market + customs for NI. Political chicanery at its finest. Note the lack of loyalist protests this week. Why? Because it’s a supremely bad look for unionists at this time…
Just peg them out already
@Shane Faulkner: and shoot ourselves kn the foot?
Keep riding the gravy train as long as they can!!! Sooner that shower are out the better..f*uking posers!!
Such a yes man .
Let them crash out
Can’t pass the deals agreed , parliament not letting them leave without a deal, what do they want.
The kingdom should either have another referendum (not a simple “Tá or Níl” for a complex question) or at least a GE and move on to fxxk, democracy me hole
@John Walsh: Oh, a GE is what Boris wants. He wants to be seen as an hero. A GE is too risky. The chances would or could be a huge Boris win or a hung parliament and the Brexit party with the Conservatives. A rock hard Brexit, disaster for the UK, Ireland and the EU. Trump would be thrilled. The rest is prediction.
And offer Scotland a separate referendum of they want to stay in the EU or not
I wonder what deal he made for Ireland consent to removal of backstop without a mention in DAIL.
TD gave up Dail input into public finances when they accepted b Lenihan opinion that the deal he made did not require Dail approval and that the govt will look after that money lent and TD simply vote thru legislation require to implement terms that saddles public fund with cost of Bank we have no control over and comply with budget deficit in annual budgets.
Td will vote thru estimates without requiring govt to confirm that the forty four billion won’t be touched and if govt ignores challenge min authority to do so on our behalf.
Instead they passed legislation giving min power to use pension fund to correct overspend and deal with budget deficits.
I
Since Theresa May hamstrung her own government in June of 2017 it doesn’t have the numbers to pass a deal through Westminster. They had 8 votes 1 day covering everything from stay to no deal, leave giving the EU finger and everything was rejected. They don’t have the numbers in parliament they need to push anything through. Further talk will not change this. They need a general election, which Bojo won’t call, to fix this.
The only reason to consider an extension is to allow another referendum, which again Bojo won’t call.
In my opinion we’ll just get a repeat of what’s happening now. Blah blah blah until the last hour then try to get something done but fail to push it through the commons. Then ask for an extension. We could just keep this going I suppose but its not a solution.
have your say