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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab to meet NI politicians | Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab to meet NI politicians |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab is visiting Northern Ireland for meetings with politicians and business leaders. | |
| Mr Raab travelled to Warrenpoint Port in County Down. | |
| The Northern Ireland "backstop" remains the major unresolved issue in current withdrawal negotiations. | The Northern Ireland "backstop" remains the major unresolved issue in current withdrawal negotiations. |
| It is an arrangement which will apply if the Irish border cannot be kept as frictionless as it is now in the context of a wider deal. | It is an arrangement which will apply if the Irish border cannot be kept as frictionless as it is now in the context of a wider deal. |
| The EU and UK have agreed the need for a backstop but not how it should operate. | The EU and UK have agreed the need for a backstop but not how it should operate. |
| The EU has proposed a backstop that would mean Northern Ireland staying in the EU customs union, large parts of the single market and the EU VAT system. | The EU has proposed a backstop that would mean Northern Ireland staying in the EU customs union, large parts of the single market and the EU VAT system. |
| The UK government has rejected it as a threat to the integrity of the UK and has suggested a backstop that would see the UK as a whole remaining aligned with the EU customs union for a limited period. | The UK government has rejected it as a threat to the integrity of the UK and has suggested a backstop that would see the UK as a whole remaining aligned with the EU customs union for a limited period. |
| 'Intensify' | 'Intensify' |
| A letter from Mr Raab, published earlier this week, suggested he expects a deal on the UK's exit from the EU to be agreed within three weeks. | |
| The Brexit secretary told a committee of MPs he was happy to appear before them to give evidence "when a deal is finalised" and "currently expected 21 November to be suitable". | The Brexit secretary told a committee of MPs he was happy to appear before them to give evidence "when a deal is finalised" and "currently expected 21 November to be suitable". |
| However, Mr Raab's own department later clarified that there was "no set date for the negotiations to conclude". | However, Mr Raab's own department later clarified that there was "no set date for the negotiations to conclude". |
| November 21 was the date offered by the committee's chairman, it added. | November 21 was the date offered by the committee's chairman, it added. |
| Meanwhile, Ireland's foreign minister has said it is up to the UK to "intensify" talks. | Meanwhile, Ireland's foreign minister has said it is up to the UK to "intensify" talks. |
| Simon Coveney, who met Mr Raab on Tuesday evening, said time was short and while an overall deal was possible within three weeks, it had to take shape soon. | Simon Coveney, who met Mr Raab on Tuesday evening, said time was short and while an overall deal was possible within three weeks, it had to take shape soon. |
| Mr Coveney, and Irish Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan, will host a meeting in Dublin later on Friday for the latest session of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC). | Mr Coveney, and Irish Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan, will host a meeting in Dublin later on Friday for the latest session of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC). |
| It will be the second time in about three months the conference will be held, after not being convened for more than a decade. | It will be the second time in about three months the conference will be held, after not being convened for more than a decade. |
| The British government will be represented by Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley and Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington. | The British government will be represented by Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley and Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington. |