EU Commissioner speaking in The Observer published today 26 Nov
- Dublin will "play tough to the end" over its threat to veto Brexit talks moving on to discuss trade
- staying in the customs union would avoid the need for a hard border on the island.
The Irish government has always insisted there must not be a hard border between the Republic and Northern Ireland, with Taoiseach Varadkar saying he must have written assurance from the UK before Brexit talks can move on. In the meantime there is a real threat of fresh elections.
Elsewhere DUP leader Foster said Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK must not be different saying Brexit was;
"perhaps the most substantial and complex process the government and parliament had undertaken in the modern political era".
She reiterated her desire to find a solution for Northern Ireland that would not harm the country's economic relationship with either the rest of the UK or the Republic of Ireland.
"As we joined the then European Community as one nation we will leave as one United Kingdom.
The DUP are in a confidence-and-supply arrangement with May's government, and Foster says she would not support "any suggestion that Northern Ireland, unlike the rest of the UK, will have to mirror European regulations".
The Beeb has more on it all here.
The Irish situation always was a major issue in the whole sorry Brexit saga and is gaining momentum. Expect it to continue doing so.
Enjoy the rest of your week-end everyone. See you back here tomorrow for more fun and games. Eamonn is now on well-deserved hols for 2 weeks and so Adam will be covering the Asian session fyi.
