Michel Barnier and Leo Varadkar to hold Brexit talks near border

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 meeting is planned as the Government yesterday shot down reports of major flaws in a special solution or ‘backstop’ deal to guarantee a frictionless border in the North.

It was reported that EU sources had raised doubts about what Mr Varadkar has called a “cast iron” deal to keep the North in the customs union if there is no Brexit final agreement.