Ireland and Britain have been dragged back from the Brexit brink after EU leaders agreed to delay the divorce deadline at least until April 12.

Donald Tusk and Leo Varadkar's meeting comes ahead of a crucial summit of EU leaders later this week.

As we approach the final few weeks before the UK leaves the EU, the debate over Brexit is becoming increasingly shrill and bad tempered.

Any hope of a last-ditch deal to prevent a crash-out Brexit is vanishing after EU leaders warned British prime minister Theresa May they will offer her nothing in make-or-break talks today and tomorrow — telling Brexiteers they have “a special place in hell”.

Her gamble on a general election last year was unnecessary.

There were two significant political announcements yesterday and though it may seem slightly skewed to compare one with the other, or to suggest that the long-term success of each proposal is as important as the other, that is the case — especially as, in our increasingly connected world, one is unlikely to be realised without the support of the other.

The political declaration on the future relationship between the UK and EU has been "agreed at negotiators' level and agreed in principle at political level", European Council president Donald Tusk has said.

While EU leaders are anxious to ratify the Brexit deal, the UK is not alone in demanding significant changes that could upset the political applecart, writes Andrew Hammond.

With Tony Blair and Jacob Rees-Mogg bafflingly on the same page, what happens next with Brexit may be hard for Ireland to stomach, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell.

European Council president Donald Tusk has handed Leo Varadkar a crucial veto in the Brexit negotiations as tense talks with the UK this weekend go down to the wire. 

Europe cannot help the British government any more and has been “as flexible” as it can be on Brexit, according to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Theresa May has issued a direct plea to EU leaders to clear the way for a Brexit deal which she can sell to British voters.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave Theresa May a Brexit boost as EU leaders gathered for a summit in Brussels, saying there were "encouraging" signs that talks on the future UK/EU trade relationship could begin as early as December.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has issued a direct message to three million EU citizens living in Britain, promising she will make it as easy as possible for them to stay after Brexit.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has welcomed the EU’s demand that Britain come up with detailed post-Brexit solutions on the border.

Latest: The Taoiseach said the Government is very happy with the European Commission's position paper on Brexit published today.

EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has gotten it “spot on” in criticising the lack of progress from Britain on three major issues including Ireland, said Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney.

Opening salvos in negotiations not an ideal start

German chancellor Angela Merkel has spoken of the need to protect Ireland in the aftermath of Brexit as one of a “multitude of special interests”.

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has called for direct negotiations between London and Dublin on relations after Brexit.

Article 50 of the EU Treaties sets out a clear two-year deadline for completion of the withdrawal negotiations.

Latest: Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage says British politicians now need to speak to the people of Europe and sell the benefits of Brexit as part of the divorce discussions.

As much as 98% of companies on the island of Ireland currently have no plan in place to cope with the consequences of Brexit, a new report shows.

Aviation concerns need to be at the forefront of Ireland’s Brexit negotiations, with regulation changes arising from the UK leaving the EU potentially hampering Irish airport growth in the coming years, says the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA).

Ireland will have more than a passing interest in the outcome of the Brexit referendum on June 23.

Irish women are better educated and more highly qualified than men, yet they work fewer hours in paid employment and are significantly under-represented in decision-making structures in Ireland, a study shows.

Agri-food stakeholders are confident that Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney’s efforts to gain EU-wide support for his gradual model of redistribution of farm payments will bear fruit in CAP reform talks today and tomorrow in Luxembourg.

Europe’s slowing population growth could see the continent become a net food exporter, but only with a significant change of direction in EU agricultural policy, say landowners.

Ireland had the third highest trade surplus among the 27 EU member states from January to April, according to Eurostat.

LANDOWNERS who break their leases should be excluded from Single Farm Payment (SFP), according to ICMSA president John Comer.

ANY dairy farmers dreaming that Fairy Godmother will somehow save them for superlevy fines are in for a rude awakening.