DUP MP Sammy Wilson tears into Simon Coveney and Leo Varadkar on RTÉ

DUP MP Sammy Wilson has torn into Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney's approach to securing this week's deal on Brexit.

The DUP has been at odds with the Irish government since the start of the week when the unionist party took umbrage with a rumoured proposal for Northern Ireland to remain the single market and customs union while the rest of the UK did not.

Now it seems likely that the entire UK will remain within the single market and customs union, circumventing any need for a hard border between the north and the Republic of Ireland.

But speaking to RTÉ, Wilson lambasted Varadkar and his Tánaister and Minister for Foreign affairs Coveney.

In an interview on RTÉ News at One, he said "In Northern Ireland their handling of this has been seen as cynical, aggressive, green, partisan... Has damaged relationships which were built up over long periods of time."

Wilson has said he previously has enjoyed good relationships with other ministers in the Irish government, but added "None of them would have dealt with Northern Ireland in the way that those two, Coveney and Varadkar, have dealt with Northern Ireland."

"Whether they like it or not, they have damaged those relationships, and they're going to have to do an awful lot of work to convince unionists that they are not seeking to undermine Northern Ireland's position and using Brexit as a cover to do so."

“Cynical” “aggressive” “green” and “partisan” - DUP’s Sammy Wilson MP criticises the diplomatic approach of Taoiseach and Tánaiste to #Brexit talks and Northern Ireland #newsatone @rtenews @eastantrimmp pic.twitter.com/Xm2848tlTu — RTÉ News at One (@RTENewsAtOne) December 8, 2017