Northern Ireland

Simon Coveney: Theresa May can navigate Brexit deal's 'difficult days' ahead

Simon Coveney speaking yesterday in the Dáil about the Brexit deal
Simon Coveney speaking yesterday in the Dáil about the Brexit deal Simon Coveney speaking yesterday in the Dáil about the Brexit deal

TÁNAISTE Simon Coveney says he has faith Theresa May can navigate the "difficult days" ahead amid fears the Brexit deal is doomed.

The Irish government's foreign affairs minister was challenged in the Dáil yesterday on whether the proposed deal between the UK and European Union has already been scuppered.

But he expressed confidence in the British prime minister, saying: "She's resilient and she's shown a remarkable capacity to get things done in difficult circumstances."

Mr Coveney said they must "ensure that majorities as well as minorities in Northern Ireland are reassured that any wording of a legal treaty relating to Brexit is not a threat to them".

Meeting business figures in Belfast, Northern Ireland secretary Karen Bradley urged political colleagues to "get behind the prime minister".

The Conservative MP, an ally of Mrs May, was asked by reporters if the events at Westminster resembled a "car crash".

"I wouldn't describe it that way at all," she replied, adding that the majority of the British cabinet support the deal and "what we need to do now is get behind the prime minister and get that deal sorted".

In the Commons, DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds praised cabinet ministers who resigned over the deal and criticised Mrs May for the UK-EU document's handling of Northern Ireland.

He told MPs: "The choice is now clear: we stand up for the United Kingdom, the whole of the United Kingdom, the integrity of the United Kingdom, or we vote for a vassal state with the breakup of the United Kingdom, that is the choice."

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald called it a "calamitous day" in Westminster.

"It is disappointing that the DUP have sought to take the side of the Tory Brexiteers over the needs of the people of the north," she said.

"Over the past day we have been in contact with British prime minister, the taoiseach and the tánaiste as we face onto the next phase of the Brexit process.

"Sinn Féin will continue to advocate in the interests of all our people and our economy with the governments in Dublin and London, and with the EU."

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said "everyone has a responsibility to avoid a hard border" in Ireland and said "we cannot risk the peace and progress we have made".

"There is no such thing as a good Brexit deal, we did not want Brexit to happen, if there's a way of stopping it we'll try," he said.

"Right now it's important for us to bank the backstop, that's what we asked for, that is our insurance policy that there will be no hard border."

Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann MLA expressed concern over the Brexit deal that Northern Ireland would "remain aligned to a limited set of rules" and "rather than the prospect of being the best of both worlds this would restrict any potential opportunity".

However, Alliance deputy leader Steven Farry said it was "very important that people are calm and measured over the coming days".

He said it was "not a perfect deal for Northern Ireland" as the "best situation is that we are part of the European Union".

Steven Agnew leader of the Northern Ireland Green Party, said: "We need people in Westminster to put away their political differences, to come together, to ensure this backstop and ensure there will be no hard border."

Meanwhile, Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) said it "cautiously welcomes" the progress made on the UK's withdrawal agreement from the EU.

UFU president Ivor Ferguson said: "While there are still some areas where we would like clarification, overall, the document now on the table would secure Northern Ireland's existing agricultural trading relationships."