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Varadkar and Tusk at Government Buildings. Leah Farrell

Taoiseach backs calls to grant Brexit extension until January 2020

European Council president Donald Tusk recommended an extension yesterday.

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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    Mute offside again
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 2:37 PM

    Tell us exactly what ‘outcome’ you want Jeffrey, you know, with precise details and all that.
    We all know what you don’t want !

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    Mute Alan Scott
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 3:42 PM

    @offside again: Jeffery would be more than happy to rip up the Good Friday agreement if given a chance

    93
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    Mute Gertrude Gilmore
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 8:58 PM

    @Alan Scott: Why not ?

    The opening section states

    “It is hereby declared that Northern Ireland in its entirety remains part of the United Kingdom and shall not cease to be so without the consent of a majority of the people of Northern Ireland voting in a poll held for the purposes of this section in accordance with Schedule 1.”

    IN IT’S ENTIRETY…

    Unionists and Loyalists have been let down and betrayed by the breaching of the Belfast Agreement….

    The Belfast Agreement was actually “tweaked” to facilitate the NI Protocol

    It is not ripped up…it has been shredded

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    Mute Jack Moss
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 9:26 PM

    @Alan Scott: Should have been ripped up many yrs ago considering how many times SF/IRA broke the rules in it . Their terrorists caught red handed in Central America training FARC rebels in 2003 .

    3
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    Mute MTB Mayo
    Favourite MTB Mayo
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    Oct 4th 2023, 9:42 AM

    @offside again: Jeffery wants a wall along the border, a bridge to Scotland, and all Catholic landowners evicted.

    3
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    Mute Tom tom
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 2:42 PM

    He realises the game is up. I wouldn’t be surprised if the British Government haven’t told him take your chances . They’ve had enough.

    145
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    Mute David Clarke
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 3:05 PM

    No donaldson you relic,you and your dup cronies are the only obstacle to the huge benifits the windsor framework provides,lets call a spade a spade,yee just cannot stomach playing second fiddle to michelle o neil,thats the brunt of the matter

    166
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    Mute Gertrude Gilmore
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 9:01 PM

    @David Clarke: If it is really offers such “huge benefits” then why are so many nationalists in Northern Ireland still calling for a border poll then ???

    Take your time ………..

    4
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    Mute Annette
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 2:50 PM

    Get to work, Mr Donalson. Stop procrastinating.

    105
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    Mute liam preston
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 3:31 PM

    Unionism is dead…long live the new Republic!!!!

    97
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    Mute Thomas Berry
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 3:43 PM

    @liam preston: May the force be with you.

    23
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    Mute Paul
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 3:40 PM

    Since Feb 22 they have been trying to get what they want and clearly uk gov are not for turning. Time for DUP to get real

    67
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    Mute lWOk0fWf
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 4:18 PM

    Harming their economy?
    The only thing that’s harming their economy right now is the DUP.

    70
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    Mute Tom Newell
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 3:50 PM

    Get back to work ya orange jaffa cake…

    67
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    Mute Feargal De Cantuin
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 2:58 PM

    Tail wagging dog much?

    60
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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 5:10 PM

    “Not planning for failure” well, well they have already failed the majority of the people by stalling the installation of a Legislative Authority for NI.

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    Mute JP
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 6:30 PM

    The DUP and followers get strength from their sense of isolation…but from what are they isolated ? It seems they have a sense of dread of reprisal that if they were the minority in a 32 county Ireland they would then suffer as the nationalists did in the 6 counties. I think they should be called out on this if only to hear their position.

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    Mute Gertrude Gilmore
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 8:47 PM

    @JP: No they fear they would suffer as Protestants in the Free State Suffered

    The largest exodus in Europe between the 2 World Wars

    2
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    Mute John Conforms
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 7:15 PM

    Sir Jeffrey is the best recruiting Sargent for Sinn Fein

    13
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    Mute Gertrude Gilmore
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 8:48 PM

    @John Conforms: And you are the best recruiting agent for The Oxford English Dictionary.

    3
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    Mute alien mars
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    Oct 4th 2023, 6:54 AM

    It be great if they could be sent back and housed where the originally came from. Imagine the peace we would have on this lovely island. I imagine they would be far happier too. Lads you be even more British if yous move to mainland UK.

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    Mute Max Cooper
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    Oct 4th 2023, 12:37 AM

    Delusional, you simply cannot plan for failure when you have already achieved it. It’s the first an only time I’ve ever agreed with Jeff.
    They really are on an alternate Planet.
    Why can’t they just be somewhat reasonable. Change is coming, everyone knows it. They need to adapt or extinction looms large. England s interest in our 6 counties is at an end. Poor Jeff is not reading the room. Dodo United Party, we know what happened to the poor old Dodo!!

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    Mute Luka Roche
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 11:07 PM

    Jeffrey do you hear the bell calling you from the mainland U.K. ? It’s at Westminter at Parliamentary buildings.

    Don’t go blaming the Irish Government on this like you love doing.

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    Mute Charlie O Connell
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    Oct 4th 2023, 8:52 AM

    Donaldson will have to get it into his head he will be playing second fiddle to Michel for a long time.

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    Mute Pato
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 7:58 PM

    Hey ho here we go again

    3
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    Mute Gertrude Gilmore
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 9:02 PM

    For whatever reason nationalists seem intent on pushing Loyalists back to a war footing.

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    Mute Joe Kelly
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    Oct 4th 2023, 6:19 PM

    @Gertrude Gilmore: sorry its the loyalists making all the threats.

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    Mute John Conforms
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 7:17 PM

    The reality is that in a 32 county Peoples Republic DUP would be the largest party after the first election

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    Mute lesidees
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 7:35 PM

    @John Conforms: the reality is that the DUP is not even the largest party in Northern Irelamd

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    Mute MTB Mayo
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    Oct 4th 2023, 9:43 AM

    @John Conforms: not very good at maths there. I think you will find that Sinn Fein would be the largest party.

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    Mute Coc Caled
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    Oct 3rd 2023, 4:20 PM

    @liam Preston.
    #NotMyRepublic

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