Varadkar: Relations with Britain strained because of Brexit

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has conceded that relations between Dublin and the DUP and with the British government are strained because of Brexit, but said it was not a mess of the Government’s making.

Mr Varadkar said all sides will need to be grown up about it in the months ahead but said he will work hard to get the best deal possible for Ireland.

“Relations obviously are a little bit strained, and they’ve been challenged by the events of recent months,” he said. “The reason that relations have become strained is because of Brexit.

“Brexit was not our policy. Brexit was a decision of the UK people which we respect and is being pursued by the government in the UK. What has strained relations is that decision.

“But we need to be grown up about it. And we need to get on with it and try to get the best outcome for the Irish people.

“So even though relations are strained because of the different positions we’ve taken, they’re not bad.

“You know, I would speak with prime minister May probably every two weeks, and we do, I believe have a shared and common objective which is to get the best outcome for our people ... for her the best outcome for the United Kingdom, for me the best outcome for Irish people, both here in this state and Northern Ireland.”

Mr Varadkar said fresh efforts will be made in the New Year to get the Northern Assembly back up and running but said the Government could assume some role should that not happen, as is allowed for under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

“We’re going to have another push in the New Year to get the executive up and running,” he said.

He said he was very conscious that there are a number of parties in Northern Ireland.

“And I’m certain the Tánaiste and I will be meeting them over the course of January and doing anything we can do to get those institutions up and running again,” he said.