BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Friday that a possible extension of Britains post-Brexit transition period would not diminish Irelands need for a “backstop” to avoid a hard border with Northern Ireland.
Ireland's Prime Minister (Taoiseach) and Defence Minister Leo Varadkar speaks to the media at the ASEM leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium October 19, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman
He also told reporters on the third day of EU summit meetings in Brussels that it would be up to British Prime Minister Theresa May to decide whether she had to defy opposition from her unionist Northern Irish allies and agree to the EUs proposed backstop, which would potentially create trade barriers between Northern Ireland and the British mainland.
He said it was a “judgment call” May would have to make but said that without an Irish backstop, any withdrawal treaty might not be ratified by the European Parliament. He acknowledged that May faces a difficult domestic political situation, running a minority government with internal divisions on the Brexit issue.
Varadkar also renewed a warning that a return of customs posts on his countrys border with Northern Ireland could see a return to violence in the British province:
“Certainly its something thats in the back of my mind as a potential consequence if we get this wrong.”
On the issue of extending Britains transition period, he said: “Im open to the idea of an extension or a longer transition period, but thats not an alternative to a legally binding Irish backstop. So, certainly not an alternative, its just something that might be part of the mix.”
Reporting by Alastair Macdonald and Antonia Kerrigan, Editing by Gabriela Baczynska
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