Leo Varadkar has warned British goods could be barred from Irish shelves if the Brits don’t play ball after Brexit.
Mr Varadkar issued the early post-Brexit threat to the British as UK politicians prepare to ratify the new EU-UK Brexit trade deal this week.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Business warned the Brits they could be locked-out of Ireland and Europe’s lucrative markets if they don’t obey the new trade deal rules.
He said: “If they do reduce their standards or don't keep with our standards then that access to our market could be threatened.”
And he backed this up by saying that, in trade terms, Europe is the moon and Britain is only the moon.
Mr Varadkar was speaking to Newstalk about what the future holds with Brexit.
Mr Varadkar said: “It does still give them access to the European single market, a market of 400 million people, the biggest and wealthiest market in the world.
"They don't have to pay tariffs or quotas either which is advantageous to them - but it's not unconditional.
“So what they have agreed to is what we call a level playing field.
"They have agreed to a non-regression clause in all but name, so we said you can only have access to the market if you don't reduce your standards when it comes to workers' rights, the environment, health and safety, product standards - all of those things.
"If they do reduce their standards or don't keep with our standards then that access to our market could be threatened.
"They have to largely follow European rules where they are relevant."
Mr Varadkar said that the UK has the sovereignty and power to deviate from EU rules and regulations.
He added: "But if they do deviate too much then they lose access to the market and the truth is, the lunar pull isn't a bad analogy.
"You can't get away from the obvious geography that Britain is in Europe, geographically, and if Europe is the Earth, then Britain, which is much smaller, is the moon.
"There's no way to take Britain out of Europe, you can take Britain out of the EU, but not Europe.
"The reality is when you are surrounded by a massive market on all sides you are always going to have to be cognisant of the fact that that market has rules and regulations.
"There won't be tariffs or quotas but what there will be is customs procedures so there will be a lot of new bureaucracy for businesses unfortunately, filling in customs declarations and also there will be checks on ports and airports, so costs and delays unfortunately for businesses.
"But it could have been a much worse situation if we ended up with tariffs and quotas."
