Brexit: Leo Varadkar says Ireland must stand its ground By Jayne McCormack

BBC News NI Political Reporter Published duration 3 September 2019

image copyright Charles McQuillan/Getty Images image caption Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stands firm on Ireland's Brexit stance during a joint press conference with US Vice President Mike Pence

The Republic of Ireland must stand its ground on the Brexit deal amid a "critical" period in political history, Leo Varadkar has said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed he will visit Dublin on Monday to meet the taoiseach.

Mr Johnson later faced a showdown in Westminster that led to no-deal opponents defeating the government

Mr Varadkar made his remarks during a press conference with US Vice President Mike Pence, who is on a two-day visit.

But Mr Pence urged Ireland and the EU to "negotiate in good faith" with the UK.

The Irish government has repeatedly said it respects the UK's decision to leave the EU, but that it took more than two years to negotiate a withdrawal agreement and that it could not be re-opened.

media caption Mr Johnson is facing a showdown in Westminster

Speaking at Farmleigh House, the country's official guest house, Mr Varadkar asked Mr Pence to take that message back to the US government.

"The divergence between the UK and the EU means the return of a hard border (between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) is a very real risk," said the taoiseach.

He insisted the Irish government had to "stand its ground" on the withdrawal agreement and the backstop - despite opposition to it from the British government.

image caption This is Mike Pence's first visit to the Republic of Ireland in his role as vice-president of the United States

Vice-president Pence said the US recognised the "unique challenges" regarding the Irish border.

"We will continue to encourage the UK and Ireland to ensure any Brexit deal respects the Good Friday Agreement," he added.

'Negotiate in good faith'

However, he said that as the Brexit deadline approached, the White House would "urge Ireland and the EU to negotiate in good faith with Prime Minister Johnson".

Westminster has rejected the withdrawal agreement three times and MPs are deadlocked over the issue mainly because of the backstop proposal in the deal.

The backstop is the insurance policy aimed at maintaining a seamless Irish border unless and until another solution is found.

Mr Johnson wants it removed from the withdrawal deal as it is "anti-democratic".

The DUP is also opposed to it, arguing it would create a border down the Irish Sea and risk the integrity of the union of the UK.

However, other Stormont parties have backed it, as well as a majority of business and agri-food groups.

Mr Pence added the US would play whatever "helpful role" it could in order to try and reach an agreement that respected the UK's sovereignty and minimised disruption to trade.

image copyright PA image caption Mike Pence shakes hands with Irish President Michael D Higgins in the company of his wife Karen and Mr Higgins' wife Sabina

Earlier, Mr Pence met Irish President Michael D Higgins in Dublin during the second day of his visit.

The vice president signed the official visitor's book, in which he paid tribute to his Irish grandfather, Richard Michael Cawley.

He was accompanied to the Irish president's official residence by his wife, Karen Pence, his mother, Nancy Pence-Fritsch, and his sister, Ann Poynter.

They were greeted at Áras an Uachtarain by Mr Higgins and his wife, Sabina.

'Great Irishman'

It is Mr Pence's first visit to Ireland as vice president, but not his first visit to the country.

He has family roots in Ireland - his maternal grandfather Richard Michael Cawley emigrated from County Sligo to Chicago in the early 1920s and his grandmother Mary Maloney's family had historic links with Doonbeg.

In the Áras an Uachtarain guest book , the vice-president wrote: "In the memory of a great Irishman, Richard Michael Cawley and on behalf of the United States of America, we are delighted to be back in Ireland."

At Farmleigh, the taoiseach showed Mr Pence and his family the military service record of his grandfather, who served with distinction in the Irish Defence Forces during the Irish Civil War.

The vice-president had lunch with Mr Varadkar and his partner Matthew Barrett, as well as Mr Varadkar's parents.

image copyright PA Media image caption The vice-president and his mother were shown the service records of his grandfather

During his visit, Mr and Mrs Pence are staying in Doonbeg, where US President Donald Trump owns a luxury golf resort.

His trip comes three months after Mr Trump visited Ireland for the first time as president.

His arrival was met with protests in Dublin and in Shannon.

Mr Pence is also not without controversy. He has previously come under fire by gay rights activists for his Christian evangelical beliefs which include opposition to gay marriage.

The vice-president's visit was originally due to take place on Friday, but was brought forward after it was announced that he would visit Poland over the weekend to attend World War Two commemorations in place of President Trump.

Mr Trump has remained in the US to monitor Hurricane Dorian.