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Gerry Adams: Brexit 'threatens Good Friday Agreement'

Brexit Secretary David Davis has said the border issue cannot be resolved in the first stage of EU talks. File picture by Press Association
Brexit Secretary David Davis has said the border issue cannot be resolved in the first stage of EU talks. File picture by Press Association Brexit Secretary David Davis has said the border issue cannot be resolved in the first stage of EU talks. File picture by Press Association

BRITAIN'S Brexit Secretary David Davis has come under attack for rejecting EU calls to discuss the Irish border in the first stage of talks.

The EU has insisted that the issue of the border must be among one of the first priorities for the UK's Brexit talks.

Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, told a joint sitting of the Dáil and Seanad last week that the union will work with the Republic to avoid a hard border with the north.

But Mr Davis rejected the EU's call and said he did not believe it could be resolved in the first stage of talks.

And he insisted that the European Court of Justice (ECJ) would not have a role in adjudicating disputes over the rights of EU citizens in the UK after Brexit, including Irish passport holders in the north.

He told ITV's Peston on Sunday that the UK wants a "very ambitious" trade deal with the EU, alongside a customs arrangement.

"How on earth do you resolve the issue of the border unless you know what the customs agreement is, what the free trade agreement is, whether you need to charge tariffs at the border?" he said.

While he said he was optimistic that an early deal could be reached on citizens' rights, he insisted the UK would not accept the involvement of the ECJ because "we are going to be outside the reach" of the Luxembourg court after Brexit.

He was speaking after Conservative leader Theresa May said there was "goodwill on all sides" to resolve Brexit issues.

"Brexit is an opportunity for the UK but of course we have got to make sure we resolve the issue of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland," she said at the Balmoral Show on Saturday.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams hit out at Mr Davis's comments and said they were a direct challenge to the Irish government who he urged to push for special status for the north post-Brexit.

"Mr Davis made it clear that he does not accept that the first items to be resolved are the border and the divorce bill for Britain," he said.

"Very specifically he was disparaging toward any suggestion that a deal on the border could be agreed before the issue of the single market, the customs union and a future free trade deal between the EU and Britain was agreed.

"Davis's remarks emphasis the need for the Irish government to urgently press the European Council to secure for the north special designated status within the EU," he said.

Meanwhile the Republic's foreign affairs minister Charlie Flanagan will travel to Brussels today to attend a key meeting.

Although the meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers will focus on Africa, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Mr Flanagan will speak to his counterparts in Slovakia, Portugal and Bulgaria about preparations for the upcoming Brexit negotiations.

His discussions will emphasise the Republic's key concerns: the economy, Northern Ireland, the Common Travel Area and the future of the EU.

Sinn Féin's deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald TD and northern leader Michelle O'Neill meanwhile will begin a two-day visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg today.

The pair will hold meetings with members of the European Parliament's steering group on Brexit, including chief negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt.