The European Union and the United Kingdom looked as though they were set to broker a Brexit deal on Monday morning that would have allowed both sides to progress to the next phase of talks.
However, once the DUP learned of the proposed plans for Northern Ireland’s regulatory convergence with the EU, Arlene Foster told Theresa May that her party would not support the deal.
It is the DUP’s firm line that Northern Ireland must leave the EU on the same terms as the rest of the United Kingdom — meaning that they will not accept economic and regulatory convergence with the EU while the rest of the UK is not bound by these same regulations.
The Irish government, on the other hand, has held firm that there should be no changes made to the text of the deal that was almost sealed on Monday.
Reports have emerged on Wednesday morning, however, that suggest that Irish government would be willing to make minor concessions on the wording of the deal, should it grease the wheels with the DUP.
According to the Irish Independent, the Irish government is willing to accept the addition of a line that clarifies no deal struck would undermine the integrity of the United Kingdom — acknowledging that regardless of economic regulations, the deal would not be a step in the direction of a united Ireland.
In an interview yesterday, DUP leader Arlene Foster told Sky News’ David Blevins that “[We] cannot break up the United Kingdom in order to satisfy an Irish government that will not take the bona fides of a statement from our own Prime Minister that nobody wants to see a hard border in Ireland.”
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