Plenty of Brexit drama.
There’s been a lot of fall-out since the release of the 500+ page draft Brexit agreement between the EU and the UK, which Theresa May says is supported by her cabinet.
She took to the steps of Number 1o Downing Street on Wednesday evening to reveal that her cabinet had backed the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement following a “long, detailed and impassioned debate”.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is also in support of the agreement was keen to stress that “Brexit is not our policy” and that he and Ireland, “respect the vote of the people of the UK.”
In a briefing in Government Buildings on Wednesday evening, Varadkar outlined that Ireland’s national priorities are:
- Protecting the Good Friday Agreement.
- Maintaining the Common Travel Area and related benefits
- Reaffirming our place at the heart of the EU
- Protecting trade, jobs and the economy
“On each of these, we have reached a satisfactory outcome today,” Varadkar said.
“Avoiding a hard border has proven to be one of the most difficult challenges. What has become know as “the backstop” is now fully spelt out in the Withdrawal Agreement.
“The backstop would apply ‘unless and until’ a better solution is agreed.”
“The full text of the Withdrawal Agreement – all 500 pages – will be scrutinised in the coming days,” he said.
“There is still a long way to go but I believe the draft agreement published today is a very solid step on the journey.”
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