The Government has conceded it will be very difficult for Ireland to simultaneously protect a hard border and the Good Friday Agreement, ahead of crunch meetings with EU leaders this week. The Government has conceded it will be very difficult for Ireland to simultaneously protect a hard border and the Good Friday Agreement, ahead of crunch meetings with EU leaders this week. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel this week and is expected to come under increased pressure over Ireland's plans to cope with a no-deal Brexit. The Taoiseach's meetings with his French and German counterparts will be Brexit focused, with discussions set to centre on protecting the integrity of the single market. Parliament has voted to rule out a no-deal Brexit - but it remains the default position unless a deal is approved, Brexit is cancelled or the EU grants Britain another extension.

Source: Irish Independent March 31, 2019 01:30 UTC