Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has rejected criticism from DUP leader Arlene Foster and elements of the UK press about his engagement in and "rhetoric" on the Brexit negotiations.

He was speaking after Mrs Foster criticised his involvement and comments during the negotiation process.

Mr Varadkar also said that we should be "afraid" of a no-deal Brexit and its implications for the Irish economy, north and south, as well as that of Britain.

The Taoiseach said he "never refused a meeting request from the DUP and never refused a phone call either from Arlene and she has my number so I wouldn't accept that criticism at all."

He said: "I would point out when it comes to the negotiations on Brexit, they happen between the European Union, including Ireland, on one hand and the United Kingdom on the other.

"No political party is involved in these negotiations, they are inter-governmental by nature.

"I spoke to the new British prime minister by phone and I invited him to come to Dublin to talk about these matters and more without any preconditions, so that's an invitation for him to decide on."

"A no-deal Brexit would have very serious impacts on the economy, north and south, and on Britain, and it could have security implications as well and it could have constitutional implications.

"It's something that we have to prepare for nonetheless but it is something we should be afraid of, I believe," Mr Varadkar said.

On criticism of his "rhetoric" from some UK politicians and the British press, he said: "I think any heightened rhetoric isn't coming from us, so there's a certain irony in being accused of that when I really think the rhetoric and the language that's come from the Irish Government has been very measured and very consistent over the last couple years."

Asked about British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's ability to be "impartial" on Northern Ireland in light of his private dinner this week with the DUP during his visit to Northern Ireland, the Taoiseach said "that remains to be seen" but pointed out that Mr Johnson "only just started in the job and I think we need to give him a fair wind and a decent chance".

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He warned, however, that Ireland cannot ignore the contents of the Good Friday Agreement and said he sometimes wondered if some of those commenting on the Agreement had actually read the document.

"The Good Friday Agreement is very explicit that the sovereign government, the UK government, must be impartial in how it administers Northern Ireland and we all need to respect the fact that the aspirations of both unionist people and nationalist people are equal," he said.

Mr Varadkar did mention the need for impartiality during this week's phone call with Mr Johnson, he acknowledged: "I thought it was relevant to mention it. It would have been something I mentioned with Prime Minister May as well.

"The Good Friday Agreement is explicit about a number of things, explicit about the principle of consent, that Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom until a majority of the people decide otherwise."

He reiterated his view that the current circumstances are not right for a vote on a united Ireland.

The Taoiseach said the conversation with Mr Johnson was "a good phone call" and that he invited him to Dublin for discussions, but said he has not received a response yet to that invitation.