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Taoiseach says UK resignations a matter for Theresa May

Leo Varadkar said the Chequers proposals were welcomed but efforts needed to intensify
Leo Varadkar said the Chequers proposals were welcomed but efforts needed to intensify

A spokesperson for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has reiterated that matters affecting the British Cabinet were matters for the Prime Minister Theresa May.

A spokesperson had made the same statement following the resignation of Brexit Secretary David Davis, and reiterated it after the resignation of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson this afternoon.

They said the Government welcomed the proposals agreed at Chequers on Friday and looked forward to seeing greater detail in the UK's White Paper later this week, but there is still much to do, particularly on the British side and that time is running out.

The Taoiseach's spokesperson said the commitments the UK had already signed up to must be translated into the Withdrawal Agreement and efforts on all outstanding issues, especially the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, must be intensified.


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Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said internal challenges within Conservative Party were a matter for Mrs May and it would be unhelpful for an Irish government to comment on why people have resigned.

He said the Government takes its lead on the British position from the prime minister and the changes in the British negotiation position since Friday were welcome.

"I think they can be a basis for serious negotiations now and I think from our perspective we need to keep focusing on how we can protect Ireland's interest."

Mr Coveney said he respected Mr Davis' decision, but "our focus has to be on working with the British Prime Minister and in particular with the Barnier taskforce to seek and get a lot more detail on the British position".

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He said that he looks forward to meeting Dominic Raab, who has been appointed to replace Mr Davis.

A spokesman for Mr Coveney later added that Mrs May’s comments in the House of Commons pledging to publish a white paper on Thursday with her government's revised position on exiting the EU was welcome.

Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys said said she was looking forward to examining the white paper on Brexit.

Fianna Fáil's spokesperson on Brexit Lisa Chambers has said it is time to step up preparations and stop waiting for the UK.

The Mayo TD said hopes of securing a deal and a workable backstop by March are fading.

She said the country should be preparing for every eventuality, including a hard Brexit, because that is the prudent thing to do.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said that Ireland must not become collateral damage amid the "Tory civil war over Brexit".

"Our sole priority is the protection of Irish interests north and south," Ms McDonald said.

"The civil war within the Tory Party is a matter for the Tories, and let no-one imagine that Ireland will be the collateral damage for the Tory Brexit or for that matter that we will pick up the tab for the Tory civil war."

Elsewhere, European Council President Donald Tusk said Britain's departure from the EU was an issue that was far from being solved and the situation had not changed with the departure of Mr Davis.

"The mess caused by Brexit is the biggest problem in the history of the EU-UK relations and it is still very far from being solved, with or without Mr Davis," Mr Tusk told a news conference in Brussels.

"Unfortunately, the idea of Brexit has not left together with David Davis," he added.

Additional Reporting Ciaran Mullooly, Jennie O'Sullivan and AFP