THE Irish premier has said he had concerns he would be pressured into a deal by European Union partners.
“Well, I’ll be very frank with you – in dealing with this issue over two years, there were times when it always crossed my mind that that might arise,” Leo Varadkar said on Friday in Brussels.
“That I would get a phone call, or find myself late at night being put under pressure from other European leaders, and other European countries, to compromise.
“But as things went on, the more we realised that it was not going to happen, that this was a concern that we did not need to have.
“Because there has been enormous solidarity for Ireland, from our European partners, from the institutions and also from the member states.
“You know that is really borne out of a belief that being a member is advantageous, and certainly it was never an anti-British thing, but obviously, if one country was leaving and another was staying, there would be solidarity among the other 27.”
Since day one, the EU has been united. We negotiated with the #UK as one union, one family. We put peace and people above everything else. Now it’s time to turn a page and look towards our new partnership with the UK #Brexit. pic.twitter.com/6oOTI7PWTZ
— Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) October 17, 2019
Throughout the three-year Brexit process, Varadkar has continually thanked the EU member states for their solidarity, despite rumours and reports that certain countries were growing impatient as the UK failed to get an exit deal ratified in their own parliament.
“The European family, when it sticks together, is very powerful.
“I think we have demonstrated that when it comes to Brexit, the way the 27 member states stuck together and defended its others’ interests.
“I hope and I expect, and I intend to work on this, that we can extend this into other things.”
He added that this would be a common negotiating EU position going forward into the next phases of Brexit, and seeking EU-UK tariff-free trade in any future relationship.
“The 27 Musketeers – all for one and one for all,” the Taoiseach concluded
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel