Thread by @JamesCrisp6

Simon Coveney speaks after briefing war between EU and UK ends in truce. He met Barnier this evening.

"I believe that the prime minister wants to find a way of doing a deal. We believe him in that.

1/

"We want to find a way of getting a deal too but certainly there are some in the UK who seem to be planning for a general election ahead of trying to plan to get a deal - In context of some of the pressure that has been put on and some of the commentary that we’ve seen
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To be honest with you we are just ignoring all of that. Domestic politics in the UK is really a matter for Britain. What we are focusing on is trying to close a gap between two negotiating teams
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..that will allow the Eu to support a way forward and a way forward the UK can accept as well but that finds a way of avoiding the need to put border infrastructure near the border on the island of Ireland.

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We know the impact that would have on politics on the island of Ireland, north and south, not just the impact on trade, and that’s why we are so determined to avoid it. Anyone who understands Ireland and its history will understand why we are so determined to do that.

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That’s our focus not to get distracted with the blame game because ultimately this is about finding a way of getting a deal.
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If we don’t manage to get a deal and if somehow the UK crash out the European Union, if that is allowed by a British government, it will really be an extraordinary failure of politics.

7

So the focus has to be back where it needs to be which is here in Brussels between two negotiating teams who aren’t even formally negotiating at the moment. They are discussing, technically , the proposals that have been put forward by the prime minister.
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We hope those discussion develop into negotiations in the coming days but we will have to wait and see if those gaps can close. "

ends