Brexit Backstop 'cannot be time limited' - Varadkar Published duration 7 June 2018 Related Topics Brexit

image copyright RTE image caption The taoiseach (Irish prime minister) was speaking ahead of his visit to Northern Ireland this week

Leo Varadkar has said that a Brexit backstop agreement cannot be "time limited by date."

The taoiseach (Irish prime minister) was speaking ahead of his visit to Northern Ireland on Friday.

It would see the UK match EU trade tariffs temporarily in order to avoid a hard Irish border post-Brexit.

The proposal followed meetings between Prime Minister Theresa May and Brexit Secretary David Davis, who insisted a cut-off date be included.

Brexiteers want to ensure the backstop could not continue indefinitely.

'All weather'

He added: "The principle that's in the existing Irish protocol, the existing backstop which is supported by 27 EU member states including Ireland, is that it applies at least until there's an alternative in place, until there's a new relationship between the EU and UK that prevents a hard border."

"It's not something that can be just time limited by date. It has to be what they say 'all weather'."

"What we need to see at the June summit is meaningful progress. The clock is ticking. The latest we can have the agreement fully agreed is October."

image copyright Reuters/PA image caption The backstop proposal followed meetings between Prime Minister Theresa May and Brexit Secretary David Davis, who insisted a cut-off date be included.