Simon Coveney has welcomed the “very reassuring” support for the backstop he is receiving from European Union leaders this week.
But he added that he realises Ireland is still “in the eye of the storm” in the upcoming brinkmanship Brexit negotiations.
The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs is on a whistle-stop tour of five European capitals as he heads an Irish mission to bolster support for the backstop in the face of British calls for its abolition.
He was speaking from Copenhagen last night when he spoke about the “extraordinary” solidarity he is feeling from other EU leaders.
His reception was in sharp contrast to that received by Boris Johnson who was positively snubbed this week in his attempts to drag the backstop back onto the Brexit negotiating table.
Both German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and French President, Emmanuel Macron, told the new British Prime Minister that the backstop cannot be scrapped or tinkered with.
Mr Coveney met with Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod yesterday afternoon and spoke afterwards about how pleased he was with the backing he is getting all across Europe.
“The delicate balance that was struck to get agreement on a withdrawal agreement is something that the EU is not willing to unwind, and the solidarity, both here, but also across the European Union, I think it’s been very, very strong.
“So while of course, we want to try and find a way to get a deal here, before the end of October, there are parameters that we have to operate within there are commitments that have been made that needs to be followed through on.”
He added that all the hard work over the past two years negotiating with Britain to get where we are now will not be dumped on a whim.
“The British government has said that they want to look at alternative arrangements that can do the same job as the backstop then of course, we will listen to that.
“And I think other European countries will too, because we all want to avoid a no deal Brexit.
“But I think the messaging is clear.
“It’s consistent.
“It’s been firm from the EU, the deals that have been put together, through many, many hours and days and weeks and months of negotiation are not going to be brushed aside now.”
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson received a firm rebuff from Mr Macron in Paris yesterday.
It followed what has been interpreted as a 30 day ultimatum that was issued by Ms Merkel in Berlin on Wednesday.
Talking specifically about the Irish border issue and the backstop, Mr Macron said the backstop is “indispensable” to the EU.
Mr Coveney was speaking after this and he said: “The British government has said it wants to look at alternative arrangements that can do the same job as the backstop and of course we will listen to that and I think other European countries will do so too because we all want to avoid a no-deal Brexit.
The Tanaiste added that efforts to find a solution to the backstop problem will continue, and he admitted that Ireland is “in the eye of the storm” in relation to this.
“There are commitments that have been made that need to be followed through on.
“Ireland, unfortunately, is in the eye of the storm here because it’s issues on the island of Ireland that seem to be the source of disagreement at the moment.
“We’ll work to try to change that, but I do want to make it very clear that the Withdrawal Agreement is not up for renegotiation.”
