Leaked government impact assessments showed Northern Ireland would suffer more than most other regions in the event of a “no deal” exit. The Brexit committee met for two-and-a-half hours on Wednesday, for talks that focused on Northern Ireland but also touched on future immigration rules for EU citizens. But Irish ministers also see the need for extra time to ensure “practical” solutions can be found, especially relating to customs arrangements. Karen Bradley, the new Northern Ireland secretary, also backed Remain in the run-up to the 2016 referendum. Four committee members campaigned for Leave: Mr Johnson, Mr Gove, trade secretary Liam Fox and Brexit secretary David Davis.

Source: The Irish Times February 08, 2018 08:48 UTC