Former British prime minister Tony Blair has said a deal between Britain and Ireland on the future of the border with Northern Ireland is the best way of limiting damage from Brexit.
He told a gathering of the European People’s Party in Co Wicklow that a "hard border" on the island would be a disaster.
"If the UK and the Republic were able to agree a way forward on the border, then we would have the best chance of limiting the damage. It is in the interests of us all, including our European partners, for this to happen," Mr Blair said.
He said getting consensus on the border will be crucial in the Brexit negotiations.
"Some disruption is inevitable and indeed is already happening. However, it is essential that we do all we possibly can to preserve arrangements which have served both countries well and which command near universal support," Mr Blair said.
"A hard border between the countries would be a disaster and I am sure everyone will and must do all they can to avoid it."
The EPP is the largest group in the European Parliament and includes German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party.
Mr Blair declined to take questions in public following the meeting.
But in a short statement he said he was anxious that Brexit does not impair the Good Friday Agreement and that the closest possible relationships between the Republic and Northern Ireland are maintained.
Mr Blair said it was vital that the Common Travel Area between Ireland and the UK was maintained.
"Obviously it's important that though there will be difficult challenges with this that we safeguard that as much as possible and minimise the damage," he said.
Mr Blair said he sees a consensus across the British political system to keep the open border arrangements between the Republic and Northern Ireland "as similar" to now.
"I think there's a real common desire whatever issues there are in relation to Brexit to make Northern Ireland a special case and make sure we do everything we possibly can to protect the Good Friday Agreement and peace process and to protect that strong relationship between the Republic of Ireland and the UK going forward," he said.
Mr Blair also told the meeting that he was delighted Emmanuel Macron had won the French presidency and not Marine Le Pen.
"But the doubling of the far right vote compared to over a decade ago, plus the surge of support for anti-European parties across Europe, should make us all think," he said.
Mr Blair raised issues of migration, refugees and economic challenges and issues relating to technology and globalisation in the EPP meeting.
He said: "Now the reality is that none of these challenges are more easily dealt with by nations alone or by a Europe which is weak.
"But it is the obligation of mainstream politics - centre left and centre right - to provide answers, otherwise those on the far right and left will successfully ride the anger."
Tony Blair says that the British people always have the right of reassessing Brexit 'once they see the terms' pic.twitter.com/VToHuxRKDm
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) May 12, 2017
Earlier, speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Blair said he hopes the border will look like it does today.
"I think this is where the negotiation is going to be toughest," he said. "But it really would be a disaster to have a hard border.
"I honestly believe, whatever my disagreements over Brexit with the present British Prime Minister and government, I think they will do everything they possibly can to make sure that the border is not a hard border and that we have the most satisfactory and open border arrangements as possible."
Mr Blair said there was a consensus in British politics that the gains of the past few years in Northern Ireland should be retained.
"I think that consensus in British politics extends to Europe," he added.
Meanwhile, Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan has said he sees no "upside" for Ireland as a result of the UK's decision to leave the European Union.
He described Brexit as a "proper mess" and one of the greatest challenges facing Ireland since the independence of the State.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan says Brexit is a 'very, very serious challenge and a proper mess' pic.twitter.com/Eq6xsje9xX
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) May 12, 2017
In an interview with on BBC's Hardtalk, Mr Flanagan said although Brexit had people thinking about a united Ireland, it was neither "timely" nor "appropriate" for a border poll to be held.
But he conceded that Brexit could make the long-term prospect of a united Ireland more likely.
Mr Flanagan is attending the EPP meeting in Co Wicklow later today.
Meanwhile the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said there is always an answer if the will exists to resolve the border question.
Mr Barnier visited what will become the EU's only land with border with the UK following Brexit at the end of his two-day visit to Ireland.
Speaking on what was described as a field trip to Lough Egish in Co Monaghan, Mr Barnier said the negotiations will not only be financial, legal and technical, but will first and foremost be human and social and economic.
He said that this is why he wants to listen and meet people on the ground on the border areas in Ireland.
He said he wants to enter the Brexit negotiations with his feet on the ground and that is why he came to Co Monaghan today.
He said he came to listen rather than to give solutions to the problems caused by Brexit.
Mr Barnier said that he now understands very well, after his brief meetings with stakeholders in Lough Egish, the huge importance of the dairy, agrifood and agriculture sector in cross-border exchanges.
The EU chief negotiator reiterated that he wants to find solutions without rebuilding any kind of a hard border and that he wants to protect and preserve the Good Friday process and agreement.
He said: "There is always an answer, there is always a road when there is a will."
He warned, however, that any solutions will have to be compatible with the single market.
Yesterday, he warned that customs controls are part of the EU's border management.
The measures protected the single market, food safety and standards, he added.
But he promised to help the Republic avoid a hard border with Northern Ireland after Brexit and recognised the unique position with the shared frontier and strong economic ties to the UK.
This afternoon, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said that there is a huge challenge ahead about what type of Ireland will exist post-Brexit.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr Adams said: "It is about the entire island, about our industry, economy and also about the Good Friday Agreement."
He said a designated special status is needed for Northern Ireland and Sinn Féin has made that clear.
