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Simon Coveney: Ireland 'jumping into dark' on Brexit Simon Coveney: Ireland 'jumping into dark' on Brexit
(about 1 hour later)
Ireland is not ready to allow talks on Britain's withdrawal from the European Union to move to the second phase next month, the country's foreign minister has said. Ireland is not ready to allow talks on Britain's withdrawal from the EU to move to the second phase next month, its foreign minister has said.
Simon Coveney was speaking ahead of talks with his UK counterpart, Boris Johnson. Simon Coveney was speaking ahead of talks with his UK counterpart, Boris Johnson - mainly focused on Brexit.
Their talks will focus mainly on the implications of Brexit. His message was reinforced by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in a meeting with Theresa May ahead of an EU summit in Sweden.
The issue will be discussed by PM Theresa May and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at an EU summit in Sweden later. He said the assurance that there would be no hard border in Ireland must be written down before talks move on.
"Before we move into phase two talks on trade, we want to take off the table any suggestion that there would be a physical border, a hard border, new barriers to trade on the island of Ireland," he said.
The UK wants the EU to give the go-ahead at its December summit for talks to begin about the future relationship between the two.The UK wants the EU to give the go-ahead at its December summit for talks to begin about the future relationship between the two.
'Make haste' Analysis: BBC Dublin correspondent Shane Harrison
Despite cordial exchanges between the two foreign ministers, one thing was clear: Ireland and the UK are still at odds about whether enough progress has been made in the EU-UK divorce talks to allow the two sides to move onto discussions about future relationships.
Despite British assertions that there will be no hard border on the island of Ireland, Dublin doesn't see how that position can be married with the UK leaving the customs union and the single market.
Nor does Dublin think a two-year transitional deal for business to adjust to Brexit is long enough.
With Taoiseach Leo Varadkar delivering the same message to Theresa May in Sweden, there is a sense that "make-your-mind-up time" for all sides is fast approaching.
Mr Johnson said it was necessary to move on to the second stage of negotiations, where issues raised by Mr Coveney would be thrashed out.Mr Johnson said it was necessary to move on to the second stage of negotiations, where issues raised by Mr Coveney would be thrashed out.
"Now is the time to make haste on that front," he said."Now is the time to make haste on that front," he said.
But Mr Coveney said there was "a sense of jumping into the dark" for Ireland.But Mr Coveney said there was "a sense of jumping into the dark" for Ireland.
"Yes we all want to move onto phase two of the Brexit negotiations but we are not in a place right now that allows us to do that," he said."Yes we all want to move onto phase two of the Brexit negotiations but we are not in a place right now that allows us to do that," he said.
He said he understood the British "aspiration" to avoid a hard border, but more clarity was needed about the future.He said he understood the British "aspiration" to avoid a hard border, but more clarity was needed about the future.
"We are in the heat of the negotiations right now and, of course, we want to move on to the negotiations on trade, but there are issues that need more clarity," he said."We are in the heat of the negotiations right now and, of course, we want to move on to the negotiations on trade, but there are issues that need more clarity," he said.
"This is a very fundamental change in the relationship between Ireland and Britain and Britain and the EU and it will require significant adjustment."This is a very fundamental change in the relationship between Ireland and Britain and Britain and the EU and it will require significant adjustment.
"The appropriate timetable is closer to four or five years than it is to two.""The appropriate timetable is closer to four or five years than it is to two."
'Different rule book''Different rule book'
Mr Coveney added: "We simply don't see how we can avoid border infrastructure.Mr Coveney added: "We simply don't see how we can avoid border infrastructure.
"Once standards change it creates differences between the two jurisdictions and a different rule book."Once standards change it creates differences between the two jurisdictions and a different rule book.
"When you have a different rule book you are starting to go down the route of having to have checks.""When you have a different rule book you are starting to go down the route of having to have checks."
Asked whether the government was constrained by its confidence and supply arrangement with the Democratic Unionist Party, Mr Johnson said that was "not at all an issue".Asked whether the government was constrained by its confidence and supply arrangement with the Democratic Unionist Party, Mr Johnson said that was "not at all an issue".
The DUP agreed to support Theresa May's minority government after June's election in return for £1bn of extra funding for Northern Ireland.The DUP agreed to support Theresa May's minority government after June's election in return for £1bn of extra funding for Northern Ireland.
European leaders say talks can only progress if enough progress has been made on the Irish border, citizens' rights and Britain's EU budget contributions.European leaders say talks can only progress if enough progress has been made on the Irish border, citizens' rights and Britain's EU budget contributions.
Meanwhile, Ken Clarke has said the UK remaining in the single market and customs union is vital for peace and stability in Northern Ireland.Meanwhile, Ken Clarke has said the UK remaining in the single market and customs union is vital for peace and stability in Northern Ireland.
It is the obvious solution as no-one wants physical border controls, the former chancellor and now Conservative "rebel" told BBC NI's The View.It is the obvious solution as no-one wants physical border controls, the former chancellor and now Conservative "rebel" told BBC NI's The View.
"The border problem in Northern Ireland, the supreme importance of keeping the settlement in place, retaining peace in Northern Ireland is probably the single biggest, most important reason why it would be preferable for the United Kingdom as a whole to stay in the single market and the customs union," he said."The border problem in Northern Ireland, the supreme importance of keeping the settlement in place, retaining peace in Northern Ireland is probably the single biggest, most important reason why it would be preferable for the United Kingdom as a whole to stay in the single market and the customs union," he said.
"If the Brexiteers, these right-wing nationalists, won't allow us to do that then the best solution after that, I agree with the taoiseach actually, is to have a border down the Irish Sea.""If the Brexiteers, these right-wing nationalists, won't allow us to do that then the best solution after that, I agree with the taoiseach actually, is to have a border down the Irish Sea."