Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Belfast. Pacemaker photo.
By Anthony Neeson
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told an audience in Belfast that time is running out to find a solution to Brexit.
Speaking at Queen’s University during a two day visit to Belfast - which saw Mr. Varadkar meet with political parties and attend an event at Belfast Pride on Saturday - the taoiseach focused on the future of North-South relations in the wake of Brexit.
His visit north came after a week that saw a public row between the Irish government and the DUP over the fall-out from Brexit and how it will impact on the Irish border continues.
Reflecting on his birth year of 1979, the taoiseach recalled the border as “a barrier to trade, prosperity and peace” and a “brutal physical manifestation” of historic divisions and political failure.
“I have only a limited recollection of the border and the Troubles, but I know that I, like nearly everyone else on this island, do not want to go back to that,” he said, adding that there was a need to start building bridges, not borders, this as Brexit threatens to drive a wedge between the North and South.
The taoiseach warned that those who want a hard Brexit must come up with a plan to deal with the Irish border, this after 14 months of having not produced a blueprint for the future.
“The challenge in our generation is Brexit,” Varadkar said.
“The Brexit negotiations are well underway in Brussels. And, to quote Michel Barnier, the clock is ticking.
“Every single aspect of life in Northern Ireland could be affected by the outcome – jobs and the economy, the border, citizens’ rights, cross-border workers, travel, trade, agriculture, energy, fisheries, aviation, EU funding, tourism, public services, the list goes on.
“In October, I will sit around the European Council table with twenty six other prime ministers and we will decide together whether sufficient progress has been made on three key issues to allow the Brexit negotiations to proceed to the next phase.
“Those three key issues are citizens’ rights, the financial settlement, and issues relating to Ireland. It will be a historic meeting for this island.
"It is my fervent hope that progress will have been made, but I do not underestimate the challenges we face."
The taoiseach added: “Today we need an answer to the question of who we – and others in Europe – talk to in Belfast.
“Who will speak for Northern Ireland and her 1.8 million people? Time is running out, and I fear there will be no extra time allowed.
“It will come as no surprise to anyone here that I do not want there to be an economic border on our island nor do I want one between Ireland and Britain.
“By economic border, I am not talking about currency or variation in tax rates. I am talking about a barrier to free trade and commerce.”
After his speech, the taoiseach met with the DUP, Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Alliance Party.
No-one from the Ulster Unionist Party leadership was available for the meeting.
