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The Irish government “needs to be more open” about its Brexit plans with the Democratic Unionist Party to assure them it is not using negotiations to forge a united Ireland by stealth, a leading member of Ireland’s opposition party has said.

Fianna Fail’s Brexit spokesman Stephen Donnelly spoke amid heightened tensions in north-south relations in Ireland and concerns that the DUP had not been brought on board before.

“There should be a back channel opened to the unionists,” said Donnelly in an interview with the Guardian. “We don’t know if they were in the loop, but we do know they have problems with the tone in Dublin.

“I cannot understand it as the government has been working night and day ... to get the best deal for Northern Ireland, but there should be a back channel between the Irish government and the DUP, “ said Donnelly who party props up the minority government in Ireland.