ARLENE Foster has told the taoiseach that Brexit is going to happen and that it is "unhelpful" to suggest the UK may change its mind on leaving the EU.
The DUP leader was speaking ahead of meeting Leo Vardakar in Belfast tomorrow as the Fine Gael leader makes his first trip north since succeeding Enda Kenny in June.
Mrs Foster said she was looking forward to her meeting with Mr Varadkar, who is set to remain in Belfast tomorrow night ahead of attending a gay Pride breakfast event on Saturday morning.
While the DUP is opposed to same-sex marriage, Mrs Foster said she no issue with the taoiseach's decision to attend the event.
"He is perfectly entitled to come and attend whatever he wants," she said.
"I go to the Republic of Ireland and attend events down there so he is perfectly entitled to do that here."
The former first minister appeared much more concerned about the Fine Gael leader's remarks last week on Brexit, which have already elicited a robust riposte from party colleagues Nigel Dodds and Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.
Mr Varadkar angered unionists when he said that his government would not help Britain design a "border for Brexiteers".
Speaking yesterday, the DUP leader dismissed the taoiseach's hope that the UK would do a Brexit U-turn.
Mrs Foster said such sentiments were "disrespecting" the wishes of the British people.
"He may be hopeful, but that is disrespecting the will of the British people," she said. "Brexit is going to happen – we are leaving the European Union.
The DUP leader said she was hopeful that the Republic would continue to work towards a "Brexit that works for them as well as a Brexit that works for the UK".
She said the taoiseach's comments were "not helpful" and urged the Dublin government to "reflect on whether they are being helpful to the process here in Northern Ireland or not".
Mrs Foster also accused Sinn Féin of lacking the necessary desire to break the deadlock which has seen Stormont lie idle since January.
She accused republicans of showing "no spirit of compromise" and "no willingness to build a shared future for all the people of Northern Ireland".
"I regretfully have come to the conclusion that Sinn Féin aren't interested in devolution," the DUP leader said.
But Gerry Adams said he was willing to cancel his forthcoming holiday to accommodate an early start to the next round of negotiations.
"Let no one under any circumstances in any way underestimate Sinn Féin's preparedness to be part of talks, to make talks work – our record is there for all to see," he said.
The Louth TD, who along with Sinn Féin northern leader Michelle O'Neill will meet the taoiseach on Friday, said the DUP should commit itself to making the forthcoming talks work rather than engaging in "casual dismissals."
