A hard Brexit would have an "infinitely" bigger impact on the UK than the EU, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has said.

Speaking in Dublin, where he met Irish premier Leo Varadkar, Mr Rutte underlined the importance of securing a good deal on the issue of the Irish border, saying it was "essential".

However, he said the other two major issues in Brexit negotiations - the UK's settlement bill and guarantees of citizens' rights - were equally important.

Achieving enough progress to allow talks to progress to their second phase, which concerns the UK's future relationship with the EU, was difficult but achievable, he added.

The Irish border has proved to be a sticking point in talks, but Mr Varadkar said on Wednesday evening that Theresa May had told him she would propose suggestions to Brexit negotiators in the next 24 hours to try to break the impasse.

British negotiators hoped to have achieved sufficient progress to convince EU leaders to agree to talks progressing when the meet at the European Council summit on 14 and 15 December.

Brexit: the deciders Show all 8 1 /8 Brexit: the deciders Brexit: the deciders European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier Getty Brexit: the deciders French President Emmanuel Macron Getty Brexit: the deciders German Chancellor Angela Merkel Reuters Brexit: the deciders Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker EPA Brexit: the deciders The European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt Getty Brexit: the deciders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May Getty Images Brexit: the deciders Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond PA Brexit: the deciders After the first and second appointed Brexit secretaries resigned (David Davis and Dominic Raab respectively), Stephen Barclay is currently heading up the position PA

"We discussed the idea certainly," Mr Varadkar told a news conference, "but we didn't discuss any particular words or combination of words or language."

"I certainly indicated a willingness to consider any proposals that the UK side have."

"Having consulted with people in London, she wants to come back to us with some text tonight or tomorrow. I expressed my willingness to consider that because I want us to move to phase two if that is possible next week."

Meanwhile, a group of 19 Tory MPs have written to Theresa May to condemn "highly irresponsible" Brexit-backing colleagues who "seek to dictate terms" which could lead to Britain leaving the European Union with no deal.