Brexit talks are continuing with a “level of intensity” as Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he hopes common sense will prevail.
Mr Martin was speaking after the British-Irish Council meeting yesterday (FRI) which was hosted by First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon.
Mr Martin said: ”I got a sense this morning that the talks are continuing with that level of intensity that is required.
“Michael Gove gave a good presentation...we all expressed a common desire that the optimal outcome now for out citizens and for those we represent is to get a sensible comprehensible trade agreement that prevents any further shocks to the economy and further challenges to people.”
Mr Martin said there are issues around “the level playing field” for the UK in terms of access to the single market and also discussions around fisheries.
He said: “I hope and my view is we owe it to the people that we represent to ensure that common sense prevails and we get an agreement here that protects jobs and protects our respective economies because we’re had one hell of a shock from Covid.
“It’s been very damaging to our economies [Covid] and created a lot of unemployment and the last thing we need now is a no deal Brexit to just add significantly to that type of negative shock which people could do without now.”
Speaking to Sky News after the meeting Mr Martin said “greater coordination” is needed to tackle Covid-19.
He said: “There’s an acknowledgement that there’s an ongoing need for better coordination but that said there was no doubt this morning in terms of the degree of the impact of Covid-19 on our respective economies and the need really to keep on top of this virus.”
The Fianna Fáil leader said the trajectory of the virus here is “now downwards” but “we still have some distance to go.
He added: “We intend to keep the pressure on the virus so we can open up again in December and beyond into the months of January, February and March and hopefully a vaccine will arrive towards the end of the year that will give some hope to people for 2021.”
