The Speaker of the British House of Commons, John Bercow, has said that peace on the island of Ireland is "absolutely precious" and must not be threatened or impeded.

Speaking on RTÉ's Late Late Show, Mr Bercow said that peace "might be fragile" and "nothing on earth" should threaten it.

He described the Good Friday Agreement as "one of the most remarkable accomplishments of statesmanship".

Mr Bercow said that going back to the past was "unimaginable to anybody who contemplated it, and who had a conscience".

When asked whether the British government understood Ireland, Mr Bercow said the government was "very much focused on its policy priority" and that priority was the "delivery of Brexit".

Asked how he believed Brexit would unfold, he said it was "all so unpredictable" and "changed from one day to the next".

He said he believed there were "three legitimate outcomes"; that the UK would leave the EU with a deal approved by parliament, that it would leave without a deal, or that the prime minister would ask for an extension.

Mr Bercow said that, by law, an extension must be requested if a deal is not agreed by 31 October, adding that "everybody has to obey the law".

He said he was sure that "wasn't lost on anyone including senior ministers".

He said it was incredibly important that the UK maintained cordial and realistic relations with all of Europe after Brexit, and said he would describe himself as European.

Mr Bercow said he would not want, or would not expect, to be caretaker prime minister, as speculated in some sections of the British media.

He said he was shocked, taken aback and perplexed at the impact he has made internationally.

He also said he would accept a peerage after he steps down as Speaker if it were offered, but said he had no interest in appearing on television shows, such as "I'm a Celebrity...".