Fears for Ireland as border talks go on

Leo Varadkar’s admission that Brexit talks on a solution for the North’s border could run as late as October have prompted concerns about Ireland’s weakened negotiating position.

The Taoiseach is in Brussels for a leaders summit and admitted that any resolution on agreeing a frictionless border for the North could be months away.

He insists there will be no withdrawal deal for Britain unless the so-called backstop on the North is agreed. However, the later deadline means Ireland’s leverage on the border is declining, Fianna Fáil claim.