Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said the Brexit talks that are taking place in Brussels are difficult and it was too early to be optimistic.
Speaking after today’s Cabinet meeting, he said that everyone in Ireland should continue to prepare for a no-deal Brexit.
"A clear message to Irish businesses and state agencies is to continue to prepare for no-deal," he said.
"We should not take our foot off the accelerator.
"Everyone is looking to next week where a vote will be held in Westminster and a deal will be ratified.
"Worst-case scenario of a crash-out Brexit, we will do everything we can to support Irish people and the economy."
Mr Coveney added: "Some of the commission-based no-deal preparations have progressed today.
"There will be a six-month grace period if airlines, for example, need to change their shareholder arrangements.
"The revenue will have over 400 extra customs officials in place, the department of agriculture will have 200, Dublin port has done a phenomenal job to facilitate arrangements needed by March 29.
"A lot of practical work has been done."
Mr Coveney continued: "We have been building on documents published in December and building on timelines.
"Nobody should be complacent. There may be a vote that ratifies an agreement, but that is just reports.
"If Britain crashes out in an unmanaged way, I think Britain too has said that there will need to be a serious negotiations about how to avoid physical infrastructure on the border and retain peace on the island."
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Mr Coveney said the EU will try to provide assurances that Britain would not be trapped in the backstop against its will indefinitely.
He said that efforts are being made to give Britain the necessary clarifications that makes it clear that "temporary means temporary" and the British parliament would not have to fear a permanent backstop.
However, the Tánaiste repeated that the Withdrawal Agreement could not be redrafted and the need for a backstop cannot be undermined.
He said the British side now need "time and space" to try to make a persuasive case to Westminster in favour of the EU UK Withdrawal Agreement.
Mr Coveney said he trusts Michel Barnier and his team, and works closely with them.
"The practical effect of a backstop should not be needed but if there is a future relationship that hasn't been agreed, there has to be a mechanism there.
"We want to ensure that the backstop is a temporary arrangement."
He added that if next Tuesday’s vote was defeated, he believes a majority of the British Parliament would vote the following day to avoid a crash out Brexit.
Mr Coveney added: "I've said for many months that I think there's a majority in Westminster who will work to avoid a no-deal, that is a lose for everybody.
"It's not for me to comment and not for me to tell them what to do, but it would be surprising if Westminster would vote for no-deal.
"There's a school of thought that says even if the meaningful vote passes there will be a need for short technical extension, but that's a decision for Westminster."
