Update 5.58pm: A spokesman for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the ‘backstop’ solution to the border issue is “legally firm”. That’s after no agreement was reached on the right operational approach to avoid a hard border in the EU's draft agreement. A "backstop" solution envisaging Northern Ireland effectively remaining within the EU customs union if no other solution is found has been assented to in principle. Update 2.45pm: No agreement on right operational approach to Irish borderNo agreement has yet been reached on the right operational approach to avoid a hard border, the EU's draft agreement showed. A "backstop" solution envisaging Northern Ireland effectively remaining within the EU customs union if no other solution is found has been assented to in principle.

Source: Irish Examiner March 19, 2018 08:00 UTC