Brexit: Time for wishful thinking is over, Irish Government warns UK

A sign regarding Brexit and the change Britain's exit from the European Union may have on the Ireland-Northern Ireland border is seen near by a road on the outskirts of border town of Clones in County Monaghan

Ahead of a vote on Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement in Westminster next week, Simon Coveney said there is no alternative to the agreement “waiting to be dusted off”.

Speaking in Dublin on Tuesday, Mr Coveney said: “It is also wishful thinking to ignore the default outcome if nothing else is agreed - that default is a crash-out.”

The Tanaiste was addressing ambassadors and dignitaries attending the Global Ireland 2025 Heads of Mission Conference on Tuesday morning.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas also attended the event at Dublin Castle.

Mr Coveney said: “Surely now is the time in Westminster for everyone, in government and in opposition, to cast aside unrealistic options based on promises that simply cannot be delivered.”

“If that doesn’t happen quickly, in the absence of that realism, it is the hardliners who think no price is too high to pay for their version of Brexit who will win out to everyone’s cost, including Ireland’s.”

The concept of the backstop - an agreement governing the customs status of the Ireland/Northern Ireland border in the event that Britain and the EU cannot agree a long-term relationship by the end of 2021 - has been the main sticking point preventing Mrs May’s Withdrawal Agreement from being passed by Parliament.

It is opposed by a hardline group of MPs from her own Tory Party, as well as their Democratic Unionist Party allies.

Mr Coveney said these are “fateful days and weeks” in British politics.

“I remain convinced that there is a majority in the UK Parliament which will do all it can to avert a disastrous crash-out Brexit,” he added.

“I am also of the view that the deal obtained by Prime Minister May - which, in relation to the famous backstop, was significantly modified to address UK concerns - that that deal is fundamentally a good one.

“Once the decision to proceed with leaving the EU was taken, it was important to move ahead in a way which protected the UK’s economy and the peace process in Northern Ireland. And this deal, the very best available, achieves those vital goals.

“The European Council provided reassurances about the backstop in December and we are ready to provide additional clarifications if these are helpful.

“However, we cannot re-open the Withdrawal Agreement text itself, which was the product of multiple compromises and highly detailed negotiations in a very wide range of areas.”

Mr Maas, who also spoke at the event, said there is “too much at stake to take this lightly” adding that a border in Ireland is “unacceptable”.

“During the Brexit negotiations all 27 member states agreed on a position and stood by it, including full solidarity behind Ireland,” he said.

“Avoiding a hard border is a fundamental concern.”

Mr Maas added: “A second takeaway from Brexit is that we must not take our rules-based international order for granted.

“For the Irish, nationalism does not mean taking back control, as Brexiteers claim.

“A willingness to compromise and a common set of rules lie at the heart of our European success story.”