Taoiseach to warn of Brexit on first visit north of the border

By Deborah McAleese, Press Association

The Irish Taoiseach will today warn that every single aspect of life in Northern Ireland could be affected by Brexit.

In his first visit to Northern Ireland since taking over as Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar is due to make a keynote speech at Queen's University in Belfast.

He will then meet with the region's political parties who are struggling to reach an agreement to restore the powersharing institutions at Stormont.

Brexit is expected to be one of the main issues on the agenda at the party talks.

Mr Varadkar, who has been vocal on his views against a post-Brexit Irish border, will warn in his university speech that "every aspect of life" in Northern Ireland could be affected by the outcome of the UK leaving the European Union.

"The challenge in our generation is Brexit.

"The Brexit negotiations are well under way in Brussels. And, to quote Michel Barnier, the clock is ticking.

"Every single aspect of life in Northern Ireland could be affected by the outcome, jobs and the economy, the border, citizens' rights, cross border workers, travel, trade, agriculture, energy, fisheries, aviation, EU funding, tourism, public services, the list goes on," he will say.

In October, the Irish premier will meet with the European Council to discuss whether sufficient progress has been made on key issues to allow the Brexit negotiations to proceed to the next phase.

"The three key issues are citizens' rights, the financial settlement and issues relating to Ireland.

"It is my fervent hope that progress will have been made, but I do not underestimate the challenges we face," Mr Varadkar will say.

"For our part, the Irish Government will discharge our responsibilities as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement.

"We will do all we can, in Brussels, in London and in Dublin, to achieve the best outcome for everyone on this island to protect our peace, our freedom, our rights, and our prosperity," he will add in his speech.

Mr Varadkar will also stress the importance of hearing the voice of Northern Ireland's elected representatives on Brexit and encourage parties to work to restore the Executive.

"We need the Executive, the Assembly, the North South Ministerial Council and the British Irish Council up and running and acting in the interests of our peoples. We need that more than ever, and we need it now," the Taoiseach will add.

Mr Varadkar is expected to meet separately with Stormont's main political parties.

Key issues on the agenda will be Brexit and the region's political crisis.

Relations between the Irish Government and the DUP, the region's biggest party, remain strained after Mr Varadkar said Ireland would not help Britain design an economic border for Brexiteers.

He said Brexiteers were the ones who wanted a border so it is up to them to design one.

The DUP's Arlene Foster described the comments as "not helpful" and said she was looking forward to meeting with the Taoiseach to discuss a number of issues.

On Thursday the SDLP said it intends to ensure Mr Varadkar will not sway from his position that there can be no new economic or physical border imposed on the island of Ireland.

Party leader Colum Eastwood also said he will be asking the Taoiseach to become more directly involved in the crisis talks at Stormont aimed at restoring powersharing.

Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams said his party will be telling Mr Varadkar that the Irish government has a responsibility to defend the Remain vote and to challenge any proposals that would see an economic border on the island of Ireland.

The issue of same-sex marriage may also be discussed as Mr Varadkar intends to participate in a gay pride event in Belfast on Saturday to promote the rights of the LGBT community.