Michel Barnier is in Dublin to attend the Ireland v France Six Nations game at the Aviva Stadium.

Poland has become the first member state to break ranks with the EU's position on Brexit after the country's foreign minister suggested that a time limit could be placed on the Irish backstop.

The European Union's chief negotiator on Brexit has ruled out that there will be a bilateral agreement between the United Kingdom and Ireland to remove the backstop from the withdrawal agreement.

European Council president Donald Tusk has set out the process leading up to a Brussels summit of EU leaders on November 25 at which the UK's withdrawal agreement will be finalised and formalised.

The Taoiseach has said that the key issue of agreeing the backstop deal is not only an issue of substance but "an issue of trust".

It is "realistic" to believe a Brexit deal can be agreed between the UK and EU within the next six to eight weeks, Michel Barnier has said.

Latest: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has paid tribute to Europe for "transforming Ireland".

European Union chief negotiator Michel Barnier says the peace process in Northern Ireland has to be maintained after Brexit.

Latest: Michel Barnier has warned of the risk of a hard border returning in Ireland.

EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has warned that there is a real “risk” to an disorderly withdrawal of Britain from the European Union unless there is a clear solution for the island of Ireland.

EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier is due to travel to the border region for a meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar next week to discuss the impasse over the North and Britain’s EU exit.

The Government has denied trying to provoke Britain with a special status deal for the North amid accusations the EU is trying to use the border to stop Brexit.

The European Union has published a draft of the Brexit withdrawal agreement to ensure Britain's "orderly" departure from the bloc in March 2019.

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator has repeated his warning that the transition period sought by Theresa May is not yet in the bag, stressing that "significant points of disagreement" remain.

Britain will have to obey the EU rule-book in full during a transition period after Brexit while having no voice in decision-making bodies, under proposals agreed by the remaining 27 member states.

Britain’s Brexit secretary David Davis has written to MPs in a last-ditch attempt to avert a Tory revolt and potential Commons defeat for the UK Government’s Brexit legislation.

The European Parliament is to demand that last week’s Brexit deal is converted into a legally binding text as soon as possible.

Latest: The EU's chief Brexit negotiator says it will fully support Ireland throughout its negotiations.

LATEST: European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has delivered a fresh rebuke to Theresa May over her Government's handling of the Brexit process.

Michel Barnier will continue his two day trip to Ireland this morning, where he will visit some border towns.

There was a lot of fuss around Leinster House this week in anticipation of the arrival of EU Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, writes Juno McEnroe.

Latest: Ireland is to bid to host two EU bodies located in London, Taoiseach Enda Kenny confirmed.

The EU is determined to sign a Brexit deal by 2019, but has warned the UK it won’t get everything it wants.