13:41

Ireland will not be providing options for dealing with animals and agrifood as they cross the Irish border in its no-deal contingency plans to be published later today.

It will say, instead, that more talks are needed on the issue with the European Commission.

The last time the UK was on the precipice of a no-deal Brexit, sources told the Guardian that checks on animals and agrifood would be mandatory from day one, meaning overnight disruption for trade of milk and lamb from Northern Ireland into the republic.

At a special cabinet meeting this morning, Irish ministers were briefed by the deputy prime minister Simon Coveney on the “dire consequences” of no-deal for Ireland the all-island economy.

The taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, is expected to be questioned by opposition MPs in the Dail at 2pm, with Coveney giving a briefing to the media at 4pm on the updated no deal plans.